No Hazmat Allowed on Drones, Says FAA

When we talk about shipping hazardous materials by ground, air, and vessel, we typically look to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR). Today, a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Final Rule added to 14 CFR piqued our interest.

The Final Rule lays out requirements for the safe operation of “small unmanned aircraft systems,” or UAS, commonly called “drones.” In addition to operational limitations, like a weight limit of 55 lbs. for drones, distance restrictions, and more, the Final Rule answers a question that Lion instructors, researchers, and staff have been talking about for a while now: Can drones transport hazmat?

For now, the answer is no. Among the operational limitations listed in FAA’s June 28 Final Rule is the unequivocal bullet point: “No carriage of hazardous materials.” 

Curious about drones? See the full list of rules for 14 CFR Part 107 in today’s Federal Register.
So, if you see a drone fly over your house in the near future, rest assured that—at least for now—it should not be hauling hazmat.

IATA Training for Hazmat Air Shippers

If you need to ship hazmat by air, it seems a traditional airplane is still your best bet! Be confident you know the latest IATA DGR rules for hazmat air shipments at the Hazardous Materials Air Shipper Certification Workshop. Covering the latest IATA requirements (57^th edition), this workshop will help you build on your 49 CFR knowledge to master the unique, additional rules for hazmat air shipments.

The IATA DGR requires air shippers to complete training once every 24 months (IATA DGR 1.5). Can’t make the workshop? Check out all of your IATA air shipper options—like a 24/7 online course and a live, instructor-led webinar—here.

Tags: hazmat, new rules, shipping