Dangerous Goods
What the exam tests
Dangerous goods questions test the shipper/operator interface, acceptance checks, loading, notification, and emergency response. The baseline is the ICAO Technical Instructions, with operator variations and Philippine requirements applied through the approved operations manual.
Core rules
- Dangerous goods are assigned to classes and UN numbers, with proper shipping names, packing groups, packing instructions, and quantity limits.
- The shipper provides a dangerous goods declaration where required; the operator checks documentation, packaging, marking, labelling, and acceptance checks.
- A NOTOC tells the crew what dangerous goods are loaded and where; it must be available before loading and to the crew.
- Compatibility and segregation rules prevent dangerous reactions. Some items are forbidden, some are cargo-aircraft only, and some require state approval.
- Hidden dangerous goods include lithium batteries in equipment, aerosols, and chemicals in passenger baggage.
Worked example
A shipment is declared as UN3481, lithium ion batteries packed with equipment, Class 9. The dispatcher checks the declaration, package markings, lithium battery marking, state and operator variations, and whether the quantity is permitted on the aircraft type. The load plan must show the location, and the NOTOC must be given to the crew. If the package lacks the required mark or declaration, it is not accepted.
Traps
Accepting a shipment because the paperwork says "not restricted"; missing a cargo-aircraft-only limitation; loading incompatible goods together; and failing to give the NOTOC to the crew. Never rely on a verbal description alone.