Air Transport of Explosives – Modern Solutions

Scientific and Technical Journal Safety & Defense 4 (1) (2018) 37–42 https://sd-magazine.eu/en/publications/2018-2/ Air Transport of Explosives – Modern Solutions Kamila Herc∗, Barbara Zakrzewska National Security and Logistics Faculty, Polish Air Force Academy, ul. Dywizjonu 303 nr 35, 08-521 Deblin, ˛ Poland Abstract The paper is an introduction into the area of hazardous materials transportation. It includes the description of hazardous materials, classification of hazardous materials, and the list of documents necessary for organizing transport of such materials, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of air transport of hazardous materials, and identification and resolution of problems. The aim of the article is to present the up-to-date information on air transport of explosives in the Polish Army, to identify the problems encountered during the transport preparation process, and to discuss the solution that may improve the current state of affairs. The improvements proposed by the authors include: improvement of dangerous goods labeling, introduction of Polish instructions and transport documents in the Polish Armed Forces, and training of the personnel handling transport in Poland. The proposed solution, when implemented, would help to reduce mistakes in labeling goods, enhance the training process of personnel handling transport, as well as to facilitate the preparation of transport documentation. The starting point for the proposed results came from own research, interviews with specialists dealing with the transport of hazardous materials, including explosives, as well as international transport manuals and instructions. Keywords: air transport, dangerous materials, explosives 1. Introduction Transport of hazardous materials is a special type of transport because the transported goods contain substances that are harmful to health, the environment or directly threaten human life as a result of irradiation with radioisotopes, poisoning with gases, or being burnt with caustic substances. It requires special precautions from the packaging process to loading, transporting and unloading, and the operations are strictly defined by international standards and instructions. Due to the listed threatening situations, it is important to devote a lot of attention to transport safety, as well as avoiding mistakes that could be the direct cause of the disaster. Therefore, the authors of the article decided to look for solutions that could improve the preparation of both goods and personnel responsible for setting up the cargo. The paper depicts the procedure of transporting explosives in the Polish Army, and provides a description of hazardous materials, classification of hazardous materials, documents necessary ∗ Corresponding author Email address: (Barbara Zakrzewska) to organize transport, advantages and disadvantages of air transport of dangerous materials, and identification and solutions to the problems pertinent to the issue. 2. Characteristics of Dangerous Goods Hazardous materials are articles or substances which properties may endanger health, safety, property or the environment. They are listed on the DGR hazardous materials list or are classified in accordance with these provisions, and their description is included in the relevant regulations. The carriage of hazardous materials is subject to special IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (which are interpreted by regulations developed by the ICAO Committee of Experts of the International Civil Aviation Organization). Some materials have been identified as too dangerous for air transport, while others may only be allowed if there is consent of the states involved in the carriage; some of these materials are only allowed on cargo planes. [1] One of the types of materials that are allowed only in cargo aircraft are explosives. There are nine classes of hazardous materials: 1. explosives, Safety & Defense 4 (1) (2018) 37–42 3. Characteristics of Air Transport of Dangerous Goods Figure 1: Safe transport of hazardous materials by air, source: Urzad ˛ Lotnictwa Cywilnego, (2017). 2. gases, 3. flammable liquids, 4. flammable solids, 5. oxidizing substances, 6. poisonous and infectious substances, 7. radioactive materials, 8. corrosive substances, 9. other hazardous materials. [1, 1490] 2.1. Characteristic of class number one – explosives The main focus of the article is the first category from the above list of hazardous materials, namely explosives. Dangerous goods have been classified with the use of the criteria of size of threat they pose into the six following subclasses: Air transport is a special type of transport because the flight operations are influenced by factors that can damage the transported goods on board the aircraft, such as changing pressure in the cargo area and turbulence due to which the packaging may become unsealed, and transported materials can damage the aircraft and hurt the crew. To develop regulations regulating and supervising air traffic safety the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) were established. The document regulating air transport for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland follows the regulations defined by the American Air Force manual entitled “Air Force Manual 24-204. Preparations materials for military air shipments”. [3] In Poland, classified military aircraft are used for military transports: small aircraft – M-28 Bryza, medium – C-295 CASA, and large C-130 Hercules. It is permissible to transport hazardous materials by passenger carriers if the following conditions are met: the captain is informed what goods had been loaded onto the aircraft, in which containers hazardous materials are placed, in which cargo compartments, on what route they are transported. In order for the hazardous material to be accepted for transport, it must be suitably packed in accordance with the rules of packaging, properly labeled, marked, and documented. The transport personnel should consist of the sender, carrier, recipient, shipper and packer. The total quantity cannot exceed the quantitative limits and must be accompanied by appropriate transport documentation, deviations or certificates issued by the appropriate authorities. Based on interviews conducted with companies dealing with the transport of dangerous goods, conclusions were drawn that one of the most common mistakes made by senders was incorrect marking of shipments that did not have the required markings on the specificity of hazardous properties, and some did not have any indication that the shipment is dangerous goods. These mistakes may result from the lack of sufficient knowledge of senders in the matter of packing dangerous goods or ignorance of security procedures. 3.1. Documents necessary for organizing transport • Subclass 1.1: Mass explosion hazard. • Subclass 1.2: Projection hazard, no mass explosion hazard. • Subclass 1.3: Fire hazar (...truncated)