AERO Specialties

By any standard, the aviation industry is incredibly important. According to research, from driving aircraft tugs to selling duty-free gifts, the aviation industry generates well over 10 million jobs directly and supports many more indirectly. The world’s airlines transport more than 4 billion people and 62 million tons of cargo and freight every year. And altogether, it produces and contributes over $2.7 trillion to the global gross domestic product. That’s 3.6% of the entire planet’s GDP. A considerable percentage of the rest of the world’s industries and economies rely on the quick and efficient transport of people, goods, and technology. And when tourism and tourism-supported jobs are included, how much of the global economy peripherally relies on air travel is anyone’s guess. There’s no question about how undeniably crucial the aviation industry is for the health and growth of our economic, technological, social, and recreational pursuits. However, there’s a f...

The transport of dangerous cargo by air—be it undeclared or responsibly prepared, declared, labeled, and accounted for—is no small undertaking. Air transport of dangerous cargo is accompanied by a number of specific challenges, some of them unique to aviation. One of them is the great diversity and range of what’s considered dangerous cargo. Much of it seems obviously hazardous: explosives, powerful acids, extremely volatile accelerants and fuels like gasoline, and radioactive and fissile material. It can be far less cut and dry however, with some thermometers and anything else containing mercury, as well as nail polish, nail polish remover, a whole gamut of aerosol sprays, and virtually all batteries and anything with them (particularly lithium batteries) qualifying as dangerous goods. Additionally, if anything does go wrong with dangerous goods during flight, a fire for instance, it’s not like an aircraft can just pull over to the shoulder and wait for the fire ...