Dangerous Goods Operations Manual Information
A certificate holder's Dangerous Goods (aka Hazardous Materials) Operations Manual and Training Program constitutes the foundation for safely transporting dangerous goods by air. Improperly prepared and mismanaged dangerous goods can increase the risks to passengers, crew, aircraft, property, and environment. Mitigation of the hazards and risks posed by these materials are best addressed by individual certificate holders within the context of their own systems.
On December 13, 2017, Advisory Circular 121-40 “14 CFR Part 121 and Part 135 Dangerous Goods Transportation Operations” was published. The Advisory Circular provides certificate holders with recommended content for a dangerous goods operations manual and training program, designed to guide and manage dangerous goods operations. The Advisory Circular is based on existing requirements. The intent of the Advisory Circular is to provide guidance to assist certificate holders in designing and implementing a dangerous goods program to include managing the risks entering the aviation system from declared and undeclared dangerous goods.
It provides guidance for all Part 119 certificate holders, operating in accordance with Part 121 or Part 135 under operations specifications (OpSpec), to carry dangerous goods (will-carry), prohibiting the transport of dangerous goods (will-not-carry) and/or authorized to transport passengers and their baggage. Specifically, the Advisory Circular sets forth suggestions for establishing a comprehensive dangerous goods operations manual and training program, regardless of the certificate holder's OpSpec.
Manuals Review Process (Part 121,135, 133)
The Hazardous Materials Safety Program (HMSP) has a standardized process for reviewing manuals containing dangerous goods operations content and training programs nationwide. Hazardous Materials Principal Inspectors (HMPIs) or designees are responsible for reviewing manuals containing dangerous goods operations content and training programs, in coordination with FAA Flight Standards and Principal Operations Inspectors (POIs). Certificate holders submit revisions to manuals and training programs through their POI for acceptance or approval, as applicable. The POI requests a review of the dangerous goods operations content and training program on behalf of the certificate holder through the HMSP. Once the review process is complete, the POI receives a recommendation for approval/acceptance or recommendations for regulatory or content changes needed to bring the submitted material into compliance with regulatory requirements. The POI then returns the material to the certificate holder after performing their own review.