Air Cargo Rules Need More Bite

Between September 1995 and October 1997 a staggering array of questionable if not hazardous cargo was stowed aboard U.S. passenger and cargo aircraft. Some specifics: leaking containers of flammable or corrosive liquids such as battery acid and formaldehyde, undeclared oxygen canisters, and pesticides, aerosols, ammonia and more.

In one case someone decided to ship calcium hypochlorite in a box that also contained liquid bleach. Really dumb. The two chemicals mixed and ignited. Other flights carried liquids or glues that can ignite at low temperatures. Mind you, these are only the cases in which the Federal Aviation Administration proposed fines of $50,000 or more.

That someone would be careless or reckless enough to ship such materials undeclared or in shoddy containers is disturbing enough. Worse is the fact that nearly half of these incidents occurred soon after the crash that killed all 109 people aboard ValuJet Flight 592 on May 11, 1996. A fire caused by improperly stored and undeclared oxygen canisters in the cargo hold was blamed for downing the jet in Florida’s Everglades.

The 1996 tragedy hammered home the perils of dangerous or improperly stored cargo. But apparently there’s much more to be done. The FAA has a clear list of what should not be on aircraft, but it needs to do more to get the message out. More frequent hazardous-materials inspections are in order, particularly since the number of FAA inspectors has grown.

The biggest fine has been $900,000, assessed against 12 companies. But that was barely a bee sting for some of the transgressors. The fines must be raised considerably.

Carriers, individuals and businesses that ship materials by air need to learn what is not permitted and how cargo must be stored and labeled. If anyone needs motivation, just bring to mind that grisly scene of the search for bodies in the Everglades. Pilot error or aircraft malfunction was not at fault. The blame lay with plain, stupid, fatal carelessness.