Dangerous Goods

Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air

What are Dangerous Goods?

Dangerous Goods are any articles or substances capable of posing a hazard to health, safety, property or the environment in relation to and shown in the list of dangerous goods in the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284) published by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or classified according to those Instructions.

Dangerous Goods include obvious things, such as: explosives, radioactive materials, flammable liquids, dangerous or volatile chemicals, strong acids, compressed gases, poisons and aerosols. However, many common items found in the household can also be considered dangerous goods for the purpose of air transport, including: toiletries, aerosols, tools and lithium batteries etc.

Dangerous goods can be carried safely by air transport providing they are prepared, packaged, marked/labelled and carried in accordance with the Technical Instructions.

The Technical Instructions amplify the basic provisions of Annex 18 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Exemptions

IOM CAA may grant an exemption from the provisions of the Dangerous Goods Order:

  • For any dangerous goods that are identified in the Technical Instructions as being forbidden for transport by air in normal circumstances but may be exempted by the appropriate national authority as provided for in the Technical Instructions (see paragraph 2.5 b) or

  • To any person or class of persons in the following circumstances:

    • In instances of extreme urgency
    • When other forms of transport are inappropriate or
    • When full compliance with the prescribed requirements under the Dangerous Goods Order is contrary to the public interest

Provided that the IOM CAA is satisfied that every effort has been made to achieve an overall level of safety in transport which is equivalent to the level of safety provided for in the Technical Instructions.

Exemptions issued by the UK CAA are not valid in the Isle of Man and you must apply separately to the Isle of Man CAA. You should check your Isle of Man exemption carefully as the conditions may be different from those issued elsewhere.

You can apply for exemption to carry Class 1 dangerous goods using CAA Form 21.