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United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

AC 121-40 - 14 CFR Part 121 and Part 135 Dangerous Goods Transportation Operations

Document Information

Number
121-40
Title
14 CFR Part 121 and Part 135 Dangerous Goods Transportation Operations
Status
Active
Date issued
2017-12-13
Office of Primary Responsibility
AXH-1, Hazardous Materials
Description

This Advisory Circular (AC) provides certificate holders with recommended contents for a dangerous goods training program and manual designed to guide and manage dangerous goods operations. Developing and using the comprehensive guidance in this document will promote the establishment of a safe and efficient dangerous goods operation. This AC establishes 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, this AC sets forth suggestions for establishing a comprehensive dangerous goods training program and manual, regardless of the certificate holder’s OpSpec.

Dangerous goods are known to have been involved in, and the cause of, incidents and accidents associated with air transportation. A certificate holder’s dangerous goods program constitutes the foundation for safely transporting dangerous goods by air. This AC provides guidance on designing and implementing a dangerous goods program to include managing the risks entering the aviation system from declared and undeclared dangerous goods. Passengers and shippers of cargo routinely introduce hazards associated with dangerous goods into the air transport system, often unknowingly. This includes dangerous goods associated with baggage, cargo, and COMAT. Improperly prepared and mismanaged dangerous goods can increase the risks to passengers, crew, aircraft, property, and environment. The hazards posed by these materials are often varied and difficult to specifically identify. Therefore, the risks are best addressed by individual certificate holders within the context of their own systems. This AC is not mandatory, and does not constitute a regulation. This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, of complying with applicable regulations to manage dangerous goods operations.

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