Hopes Aviation Community Can Work Towards Elimination Of Risks

ALPA has released a statement supporting the NTSB's inclusion of improving safety during the shipment of hazardous materials on its Most Wanted List.

“ALPA recognizes and applauds the work of the National Transportation Safety Board in creating priorities for improving the safety of our skies," said ALPA president Capt. Tim Canoll. "We are also hopeful that by including the safe shipment of hazardous materials to this year’s list, the aviation community can work toward eliminating these risks.
 
“Of significant concern to ALPA is the shipment of undeclared dangerous goods. Currently, there are a number of weaknesses created by the reliance of an ‘honor system’ approach by airlines and regulators with respect to packages accepted from shippers. ALPA is hopeful that with the increased attention to this issue from the NTSB, legislators and policy makers will address safety risks that are created when undeclared dangerous goods are shipped by air. Important steps are needed to strengthen the programs of accepting these air shipments.
 
“Additionally, ALPA’s long-held position that the shipment of lithium batteries by air poses a significant safety threat unless adequate mitigations are in place. ALPA remains committed to working with U.S. and international officials to address the risks associated with bulk shipments of lithium batteries by air, through the establishment of packaging standards and other mitigations. We also continue our call on the Department of Transportation to domestically apply the lithium battery shipping regulations that were established by the International Civil Aviation Organization on April 1, 2016.”

(Source: ALPA news release)

FMI: www.alpa.org