# Kalitta Air LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 16-0169
- **title:** Kalitta Air LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2017-12-28
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 16-0169 response to Kalitta Air LLC concerning 172.101.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0169.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0169.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0169
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/56796/160169.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
NO V l 6 2 01 7
Mr. Tim Shaw
Kalitta Air, LLC.
818 Willow Run Airport
Ypsilanti, MI 48198
Ref. No.: 16-0169
Dear Mr. Shaw:
This responds to your October 12, 2016 letter requesting clarification on shipping paper
requirements and package quantity limitations for Class 1 materials under the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) and the International Civil Aviation
Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO
TI). Specifically, you ask about the shipping paper requirements and net quantity limits
applicable to Class 1 (explosive) materials or articles. Your questions are paraphrased and
answered as follows:
Q 1. For transportation by aircraft, you ask if the net explosive mass (NEM) may be expressed
on a shipping paper as the net weight of an article and not differentiate between the two.
Al. Under the HMR, for Class 1 materials, the quantity must be the net explosive mass. For a
Class 1 material that is an article, the net explosive mass may be expressed in terms of the net
mass of either the article or the explosive materials contained in the article.
Q2. Does the ICAO TI allow the net explosive mass indicated on a shipping paper to be
expressed in terms of either the net mass of the article or the explosive materials contained in the
article, or does it differ from the HMR and require an indication the explosive materials
contained in the article only?
A2. The ICAO TI in Part 5;4.1.5.l states that the net quantity of dangerous goods in each
package must be indicated by mass or volume as appropriate. For explosive articles of Class 1,
the net quantity must be supplemented with the NEM. The definition for net explosive mass in
Part 1 ;3 .1.1 states:
Net explosive mass (NEM). The total mass of the explosive substances, without
the packagings, casings, etc.

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Q3. You provide an example of a shipment consisting ofUN0186, Rocket motors, l.3C.
Each rocket motor has a net mass (net quantity) of 381 .03 kg and a net explosive mass of 110.34
kg. The net quantity limit per package under both the HMR and the ICAO TI is 220 kg for
UNO 186. You ask which weight is used for determining the quantity limit per package.
A3. The net mass of the article (rocket motors) is used for determining per package quantity
limitations set forth in Column 9 of the§ 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table. As prescribed in
§ 172.1010)(3), when articles or devices that are specifically listed by name in the HMT, the net
quantity limitation applies to the entire article or device (less packaging and packaging materials)
rather than only to its hazardous components. This is consistent with the definition for "Net
quantity" in Part 1 ;3.1.1 and provisions in Part 3, Chapter 2.1.1 "Column 11" and "Column 13"
of the ICAO TI. In the scenario described, the rocket motors would not be eligible for air
transport unless under the terms of a special permit.
I hope this answer your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact the Standards
and Rulemaking Division at (202) 366-8553.
Sincerely,
~p ~~--" A- - ~---( · /
Duane A. Pfund 1/
I
International Standards Coordinator
Standards and Rulemaking Division
2

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October 12, 2016
Mr. Charles E. Betts
Director, Standards and Rulemaking Division
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington , DC 20590
Dear Mr. Betts,
Kalitta Air, LLC. , is an all-cargo aircraft operator, headquartered in the United
States, certificated under 14CFR 119, and operating under part 121. Kalitta
air transports Explosive material by air, operating under its own DOT Special
Permit, as well as other Special Permits.
We are confused when discussing the term 'net quantity per package' for
articles, transported by air.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Technical Instructions, list
'Information required in addition to the dangerous goods description ,' in Part
5; 4.1.5.1.f:
"f) for explosive articles of Class 1, the net quantity indicated for
each package must be supplemented with the net explosive mass
(see Part 1 ;3.1.1 for the definition of net explosive mass) contained
in the package followed by the unit of measurement. The
abbreviations "NEQ"
,
"NEM" or "NEW" may be indicated in
association with the value provided."
We are comfortable with the net quantity of a substance, i.e. ROX, wetted, or
ROX, desensitized, but have a difficult time when discussing the net weight of
articles with our customers.
Your letter of June 8, 2004, to Mr. Bob Van Duzer, of the Sporting Arms and
Ammunition Manufacturers Institute, (SAAMI), did not resolve the confusion .
You referenced 172.202 (a) (5) (i), applicable to situations 'Except for
transportation by aircraft'. That section specifically mentioned Explosives, but
allows the offeror to state the net mass of either the article or the explosive
materials contained in the article. The following section , 172.202 (a) (6), 'For
transportation by aircraft,' does not mention explosives, but does require the
total net mass per package, be shown unless a gross mass is indicated in
Columns (9A) or (9B) of the §172.101 table.
Our valued customers want to show the Net Explosive Mass (NEM) or NEW,
as the net weight of an article, and not differentiate between the two.
Perhaps a more practical example of my question relates to a shipment of
UN0186, Rocket Motors, 1.3C. UN0186. When properly identified, classified ,
8 18 Willow R1111 Airport, Ypsilanti, Ml 48 198
Telepho11 e 734-484-0088
Fax 734-544-7041

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packed, marked, labeled and documented, Rocket motors are acceptable for
transportation by air, as long as the maximum net quantity in one package of 220
Kg, is not exceeded. In this instance, the shipper shows 3 (appropriate) boxes x
381.03 Kg each, with a Net Explosive Weight (NEW) of 110.34 Kg each.
My questions are these:
1. For international air transportation, under the ICAO Technical
instructions, is the net weight of each package 381.03 kg or 110.34 kg?
2. Are the requirements applicable to domestic transportation different
from the ICAO requirements, and therefore only require the weight of
the explosive material & not the weight of the article?
Put differently, is the quantity limit of 220 Kg, in the 49CFR part 172.101 table,
applicable to the Net Weight of the Explosive, (381.03 kg) or the Net Explosive
Weight (NEW) (110.34 Kg)?
I consider the Net Weight of Explosive as the finished article, exclusive of
packaging, while the Net explosive Weight is the weight of (only) the explosive
material, itself.
The difference is substantial. The difference often dictates whether a Special
Permit is required to transport this cargo, or whether this is a routine movement
of acceptable Class 1 material.
Your interpretation would be appreciated.
Tim Shaw
Manager of Security
818 Willow Run Airport, Ypsilallfi, Ml 48198
Telephone 734-484-0088
Fax 734-544-7041
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