Published at March, 23 2022
Updated on December, 22 2025
Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
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The transport of dangerous goods by air must comply with international regulation whose aim is to prevent risks to people, property and environment. The regulation applies to air operators, all persons involved in transportation of Dangerous Goods by air.
Air operator
Competency-based training
From 1 January 2023, all employers of personnel performing functions aimed at ensuring that dangerous goods are transported in accordance with the ICAO Technical Instructions must establish and maintain a dangerous goods training program that includes a competency-based approach to training and assessment (CBTA). French CAA approves training programs for their national air operators.
Regulation
National air operators are subject to European Regulation 965/2012, known as AIR-OPS, which implements Annex 18 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the Technical Instructions (DOC 9284 and supplement) published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
OACI
- Annex 18
- Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air: Doc 9284 and its supplement.
- Emergency response guidance for aircraft incidents involving dangerous goods: Doc 9481 AN/928.
- Addenda and corrigenda are available online on ICAO website as mentioned hereafter.
New features in the 2025-2026 edition
The main changes introduced in the 2025-2026 edition of the Technical Instructions & supplement are listed for informational purposes only. Air operators and organizations are responsible for their regulatory monitoring.
New features - 2025-2026 edition (French version)
Ground handling (transfer of carry-on baggage to the hold)
When transferring cabin baggage to the hold, questioning passengers about the contents of their baggage helps prevent prohibited dangerous goods from being placed in the hold. (lithium batteries alone or power banks, electronic cigarettes, etc.)
French CAA communicates on this matter through a video clip.
General aviation (NCC et NCO) and aerial work (SPO)
Regarding national air operator, features of each of these types of operation are detailed through the pages about aerial work and general aviation. The transport of dangerous goods is implemented by Part SPA-DG of European Regulation 965/2012, which sets out organizational and operational requirements.
The provisions of the amended French decree of July 24, 1991, relating to the conditions of use of civil aircraft in general aviation now apply to aircraft and activities that are excluded from the scope of European rules. Paragraph 5.10.8 specifies that the transport of dangerous goods is prohibited, unless authorization has been issued by the French-CAA.
Shippers
Before a consignment of dangerous goods is offered for air transport, all relevant persons involved in its preparation must have received training to enable them to carry out the functions for which they are responsible, Where a shipper does not have trained staff, the “relevant persons” may be interpreted as applying to those employed to act on the shipper’s behalf and to undertake the shipper’s responsibilities in the preparation of the consignment. However, such persons must be trained as required.
According to ICAO regulation, “Where an exemption or approval is required from more than one State, it is usually most appropriate for the State of Origin to grant the initial exemption because it may have greater awareness of the shipper and the terms and conditions under which the dangerous goods will be shipped.”. Consequently, freight subject to these additional authorizations must be shipped by air from the territory where the shipper is domiciled in order to be prior oversight by the competent local authority.
Specification regarding Packing Instruction 101
Where the competent national authority responsible for the classification of explosives requires the use of packaging that complies with UN criteria for packaging group II or higher, or the use of large rigid packaging (aluminum, wood/plywood, steel, other metal, plastic) approved “UN 50”, no additional approval regarding this outer packaging is required by French-CAA..
However, all other requirements regarding to air shipments of “Forbidden” Dangerous Goods subject to packing instruction 101 must be apply.
Transport of forbidden dangerous goods
A guide for the transport of forbidden dangerous goods describes the procedure for processing an exemption. Read the guidance material.
Set of documents to be provided are listed in Appendix II of the application form.
Competent authorities / Notification of accidents or incidents involving the transport of dangerous goods by air
Notifications of aviation incidents or accidents must be sent to the competent French authority responsible for the transport of dangerous goods by air.
Direction de la sécurité de l’Aviation civile (DSAC)
Direction technique de la Navigabilité et des Opérations (DSAC/NO)
50 rue Henry Farman
75720 Paris cedex 15
France
Email : dsac-dangerous-goods-bf@aviation-civile.gouv.fr
Notifications of aviation incidents or accidents involving radioactive materials for civilian use must be sent to ASNR.
Autorité de sûreté nucléaire et de radioprotection (ASNR)
Direction du transport et des sources (DTS)
Siège social : 15 rue Louis Lejeune F-92120 MONTROUGE
Adresse postale : ASNR – BP 17 – F-92262 Fontenay-aux-Roses cedex
Téléphone : +(33) (0) 1 46 16 41 05 or +(33) (0) 1 46 16 40 00
Email : dts-transport@asnr.fr
Web : https://teleservices.asnr.fr/
French-CAA (see hereabove) will be copied on the exchanges with the ASNR.
These notifications apply without prejudice to other regulatory obligations relating to event reporting (e.g. under Regulation (EU) No. 376/2014) or accident and incident reporting for the purposes of investigating and preventing accidents and incidents in civil aviation (e.g. reporting to the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile).