# USA 3000 Airlines — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 09-0207  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2010-02-16

09-0207 response to USA 3000 Airlines concerning 175.8.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Deportment of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington. D.C. 20590
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
FEB 1 6 2010
Mr. William J. Hoffmann
Newtown Square, PA 19073
USA 3000 Airlines
335 Bishop Hollow Road, Suite 100
Ref. No.: 09-0207
Dear Mr. Hoffmann:
This responds to your letter dated September 3, 2009, regarding the applicability ofthe
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to the transportation ofalcohol
as company material (COMAT) by aircraft. You state that your airline sells 50 mL (mini)
bottles of alcohol to passengers during flights. Specifically, you ask if your airline may
transport this alcohol in the cargo holds ofthe aircraft as COMAT in accordance with § 175.8 to
restock inventory at various locations.
The answer is no. Section § 175.8 provides certain exceptions for aircraft operator equipment
and items ofreplacement for air worthiness requirements and operating regulations. Alcoholic
beverages carried aboard passenger-carrying aircraft by the operator intended for use or sale on
the aircraft in which the product is intended to be used or sold are specifically excepted from the
requirements ofthe HMR (see § I 75.8(b)(3»).
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sin:r~~
Charles E. Betts
hief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

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September 3, 2009
U.S. DOT
PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
ATTI'-T: PHH-lO
East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, DC 20590-0001
To Whom It May Concern:
I am the Director of Quality Control for Brendan Airways, LLC d/b/a USA 3000 Airlines, a 14 CFR 121
air carrier. We are seeking an interpretation for the carriage of alcohol in accordance with § 175.8 as
COMAT. § 175.10 allows passengers and crewmembers the carriage ofalcohol of 5 liters, either in
carry on or checked baggage for alcohol containing 24% to 70% alcohol by volume. As an airline that
sells 50ml (mini) bottles to our passengers we require to keep stock ofthese minis at various stations.
Our question is, ifwe need to move some stock ofalcohol from one station to another and a case of a
particular alcohol does not exceed 5 liters and is not more than 70% alcohol by volume, can we ship
these boxes in our cargo holds as COMAT. Please keep in mind that the rule says a passenger can check
in 5 liters per person as checked bags. Our aircraft hold 168 passengers and they could check in up to 5
liters in our cargo holds in accordance with the regulations. Our feeling is that if "passengers" can carry
this amount, why could we as an "Air Carrier" not carry alcohol in the same manner as COMAT.
Your interpretation ofthis rule would be greatly appreciated. My address and telephone may be found at
the bottom of this letter.
YO~ilf--
~am 1. Hoffinan
Director of Quality Control
USA 3000 Airlines.
335 Bishop Hollow Road, Suite 100. Newtown Square, PA 19073
Phone 610-325-1286. Fax 610-325-1285

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2009/090207.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `2a7357c5d26bc8676ad1391c57a90de43272f513fa45a9a1a40b022fa5d2fbb2`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T03:26:24.776Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-09-0207`

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