Dangerous Goods

What are Dangerous goods?

Dangerous goods are defined under the Civil Aviation Act as meaning:cargo

  • Explosive substances
  • Items which by reason of their nature are liable to endanger the safety of an aircraft or a person on board an aircraft; or
  • Which the regulations declare to be dangerous goods.

It is important to note that items classified as dangerous goods may be considered for carriage  on-board an Inflight ER aircraft.  Passengers need to be aware of what may be carried and which items are forbidden. 

Dangerous goods fall into one of the following three categories:

  • Dangerous goods that may be carried (some of which require approval from InFlight ER)
  • Dangerous goods that may be carried but must undergo a formal acceptance procedure
  • Dangerous goods forbidden under any circumstances

It is essential that you contact the Inflight ER team to ascertain if an item is classified under the dangerous goods category, and if so, what procedure for permission to transport it, applies.

Dangerous goods which may be carried (but may require approval from InFlight ER)

CASA publishes a list of items (linked below) which provides guidance on some types of dangerous articles or substances that  may be carried on-board the InFlight ER aircraft.  Some items require approval from InFlight ER but do not require formal acceptance.  However, strict limitations  apply as to how much may be carried and where the dangerous good must be placed in the aircraft.  It is imperative that passengers make all dangerous goods known to the Inflight ER team.

Our flight crew will brief passengers on requirements relating to dangerous goods prior to boarding the aircraft.  If there is any doubt, our crew will be able to verify if the carriage of items is permitted.  Please bear in mind, if an item is disallowed for carriage, it will remain at the point of departure.

In order to avoid any disappointment it is best to contact the Inflight ER team as soon as possible to discuss and clarify policy and procedures relating to the transportation of dangerous goods.

Dangerous goods that may be carried but must undergo a formal acceptance procedure

The acceptance function is critical to ensure the safe transportation of dangerous goods by air. No shipment containing dangerous goods will be accepted for carriage unless it complies fully with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, or unless it is accompanied by written permission from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Dangerous goods that must undergo this formal acceptance procedure will be assessed by company approved organisations.  Most of these organisations are well known freight handlers.

This process includes, but is not limited to:

  • Documentation
    • Shipper details
    • Identification
    • Quantity
  • Packaging and labelling
  • Authorisations
  • Additional handling information

Acceptance of dangerous goods will be dealt with on an individual basis.  Please contact InFlight ER for assistance to discus and clarify requirements.

Dangerous goods which are forbidden

  • Security type equipment such as attaché cases, cash boxes, cash bags, etc. incorporating dangerous goods, for example lithium batteries or pyrotechnic material
  • Personal medical oxygen devices that use liquid oxygen as carry-on-baggage, checked baggage or on your person
  • Electroshock weapons (e.g. Tasers) containing dangerous goods such as explosives, compressed gases, lithium batteries etc
  • Strike anywhere matches
  • Any article or substance listed as ‘Forbidden’ in the International Civil Aviation Organisation Dangerous Goods List.

Please contact the Inflight ER (contact@InFlightER.com.au) team to ascertain if your article or substance is forbidden for transport by air.  Some or all of the following information will assist our team.

  • United Nations (UN) number
  • Proper shipping name and description
  • Quantity

Any package or baggage (carry-on or checked) item found to contain undeclared dangerous goods will be rejected for carriage.

Baggage or freight that may be hazardous during transportation may not always be obvious from its description. Experience has shown that consignments stated as containing some commodities often contain undeclared dangerous goods.  InFlight ER shall seek confirmation from shippers and passengers regarding the contents of any item of cargo or baggage where there are suspicions that it may contain dangerous goods. This list includes some common items that may indicate a hidden hazard:

  • Camping equipment
  • Car parts
  • Chemicals
  • Cylinders
  • Dental apparatus
  • Diagnostic specimens
  • Diving equipment
  • Electrically powered apparatus (may contain wet batteries)
  • Film crew or media equipment
  • Frozen fruit, vegetables, etc
  • Instruments
  • Household goods (paint, adhesives, polishes, aerosols)
  • Magnets
  • Pharmaceuticals (flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidisers, organic peroxides, toxic or corrosive substances)
  • Repair kits
  • Tool boxes
  • Torches

Special interest – Carriage of infectious substances

Some infectious substances are considered a dangerous item but many are not.  Carriage of such items shall be dealt with on an individual basis.

The following items are not subject to these instructions unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class:

  • Substances which do not contain infectious substances or substances which are unlikely to cause disease in humans or animals
  • Substances containing micro-organisms which are not-pathogenic to humans or animals
  • Substances in a form where any present pathogens have been neutralised or inactivated so that they no longer pose a health risk
  • Environmental samples (including food and water samples) which are not considered to pose a significant risk of infection
  • Dried blood spots, collected by applying a drop of blood to absorbent material, or faecal occult blood screening tests and blood or blood components that have been collected for the purposes of transfusion or for the preparation of blood products to be used for transfusion or transplantation and any tissue or organs intended for the use in transplantation are not subject to these instructions
  • Patient specimens where there is minimal likelihood that pathogens are present are not subject to these instructions if the specimen is transported in packaging which will prevent any leakage and which is marked with the words “Exempt human specimen” or “Exempt animal specimen”, as appropriate

Forms that may be of use