Safe to fly with fireworks??

[Green Goggles]

Short story:

Wife purchased a big bunch of fireworks.
Wife is now concerned about flying home with them. http://images.corvetteforum.com/images/smilies/willy_nilly.gif


To calm her fears, I said I would ask my "Internet airplane buddies."

So, is there any reason fireworks would pose a threat to me or my Mooney?


http://images.corvetteforum.com/images/smilies/patriot.gif http://images.corvetteforum.com/images/smilies/patriot.gif

[rwanttaja]

Nothing technical comes to mind, but keep in mind the legalities. Will they be legal at the places you make fuel stops? If someone looks in the window and sees them, they might be a problem.

Back in the 90s, my brother-in-law was due for custody of kids from a previous marriage. The ex put them on an airliner and sent them to him, unaccompanied. When they got off, they had to excitedly show their dad the bag of fireworks that mom had given them as carry-on baggage....

Ron Wanttaja

[Floatsflyer]

Only if you light them up enroute!

[Jim Hann]

As Ron implied, they are strictly verboten on air carriers. I was looking in the regs and I haven't found a specific reg to cite, but they are Class 1 Explosives. Would you haul dynamite?

[Green Goggles]

I am not worried about legality type things. We are making a routine flight from one familiar airport to another familiar airport with no fuel stops. I've traveled previously with hunting rifles, so I expect no problem.

My wife was concerned that at altitude, under lower pressure, the fireworks would somehow ignite themselves. http://images.corvetteforum.com/images/smilies/willy_nilly.gif



I am just posting here to calm her fears and make sure there's not something important I am overlooking. http://images.corvetteforum.com/images/smilies/cheers2.gif

[WLIU]

I used to regularly fly with pyrotechnics as I did night air shows. No special precautions required. Leave them in their original packaging.

The DOT regulations are for "common carriers" and do not apply here. Don't stop at an air carrier airport and take them out of the airplane. From one GA airport to another you should be fine.

The local Fire Marshall, depending on where you are, only has jurisdiction once you take them out of the aircraft.

Best of luck,

Wes
N78PS

[FlyingRon]

The local Fire Marshall, depending on where you are, only has jurisdiction once you take them out of the aircraft.


...or the local police. Some places have criminal statutes against fireworks. Came home one day to find a police report on the kitchen counter regarding my son and fireworks....

[Jim Hann]

Came home one day to find a police report on the kitchen counter regarding my son and fireworks....
Who can run faster, you or him? :cool:

Kinda reminds me of what my ex-brother in law told my niece and nephew and I've told my kids. If they smoke or do drugs they won't have to worry about those things killing them, their Mom and I will take care of that!

[Bob Dingley]

IF you were an air carrier, you would need the shipper (you) to complete the form with the red & white border that notifies the crew (also you) or truck driver or ship's Master that you are shipping Hazmat. The material must be packed with the detonators (matches) separate from the "explosives." The material must be LABELED so that the cargo handler (you) can I.D. it. It should be packaged so that it is reasonably protected. Not a supermarket plastic bag. I suggest a Tupperware bin. The Hazmat paperwork will be turned in to the carrier's management (your wife) after the flight is complete. The reference is 49 Code of Fed Regs. It is a green soft covered book about the size of the AFD. It is titled Transportation of Hazardous Material, CFR 49.A DOT reg. Any trucker should have one. Don't start reading it unless you have lots of time. Somewhere along the Gulf coast, a part 135 helicopter on any day departs for a rig in the Gulf with a load of passengers riding with enough high explosives to take out an M1 tank. The crew will be in substantial compliance with the above guidance. Its done every day. Its mostly paperwork. Have a happy fourth.
Bob

[Bob Dingley]

I forgot to mention that I don't think part 91 operators need to comply with the paperwork/labeling.

[Green Goggles]

Hmm.... very interesting info, Bob. Thanks for the write-up! http://images.corvetteforum.com/images/smilies/cheers2.gif

[Mark]

In some parts of the world you are required to have pyrotechnic flares as part of the mandated survival equipment.
Normal procedure would be to carry them in a steel container (aluminium melts far too easily).

Personally, I would regard it as an inessential hazard and find some other alternative.

[steveinindy]

In some parts of the world you are required to have pyrotechnic flares as part of the mandated survival equipment.

The bigger question is why wouldn't you be carrying a couple of them if you're doing anything besides just a few circuits around the pattern? I've always viewed them as mandatory even when I just flew an ultralight.


Normal procedure would be to carry them in a steel container (aluminium melts far too easily).

If you're still in the aircraft and the aluminum melts, you're probably beyond the point of worrying. Steel would make more sense given that the flare is less likely to penetrate when it does cook off finally. I used an old ammo can (painted bright orange) on board the ultralight I flew to keep all of my "survival gear" ready to go should I need it. It once came loose from its mounting while in the pattern to land. The 500+ foot fall to the ground dented the can but the flares didn't deploy and the can was still usable after a touch-up regarding the paint.

[Frank Giger]

Sure it's okay.

Indeed, it's historically correct!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mt3QBs1Uik

[lkorona]

According to the AOPA web site it's not OK.

They have a front page article about this on their web site today.

Importance to Members
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Title 49 CFR, governs and is the regulatory authority for the transportation of all hazardous materials in commerce, on public highways and waterways and in the airspace of the United States. This includes the regulatory guidance of transportation of such materials by private aircraft, air taxi/charter, and airline passengers and all cargo operations under FAR Parts 91, 121, and 135.
The transportation of any defined hazardous material by private general aviation aircraft, while not totally prohibited (note that many materials are, in fact, prohibited), does carry certain risks and should not be considered, unless absolutely necessary.
Quick Points
· Gasoline – Aviation and auto fuel may be transported by air in certain quantities and containers.
· Ammunition – Small-arms ammunition for personal use carried by a crewmember or passenger in his/her baggage is permitted if securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes, or other packagings specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
· Fireworks – Are prohibited from being transported by air as they are classed as explosives and pyrotechnic devices.
As always, feel free to call AOPA's Pilot Information Center at 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672) with questions.

[Green Goggles]

According to the AOPA web site it's not OK.

They have a front page article about this on their web site today.


Umm... well, I made it safe!

By tomorrow night, they will all be gone, so no worries for the return trip. :D

[Bob Dingley]

According to the AOPA web site it's not OK.

They have a front page article about this on their web site today.

Importance to Members
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Title 49 CFR, governs and is the regulatory authority for the transportation of all hazardous materials in commerce, on public highways and waterways and in the airspace of the United States. This includes the regulatory guidance of transportation of such materials by private aircraft, air taxi/charter, and airline passengers and all cargo operations under FAR Parts 91, 121, and 135.
The transportation of any defined hazardous material by private general aviation aircraft, while not totally prohibited (note that many materials are, in fact, prohibited), does carry certain risks and should not be considered, unless absolutely necessary.
Quick Points
· Gasoline – Aviation and auto fuel may be transported by air in certain quantities and containers.
· Ammunition – Small-arms ammunition for personal use carried by a crewmember or passenger in his/her baggage is permitted if securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes, or other packagings specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
· Fireworks – Are prohibited from being transported by air as they are classed as explosives and pyrotechnic devices.
As always, feel free to call AOPA's Pilot Information Center at 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672) with questions.

Explosives pyrotechnics are prohibited from being transported? I don't think that statement is accurate. CFR 49 is availkable on line as an e-reg. Instructions are provided for transporting just about everything. Including explosives. In part 91,121 and 135 aircraft. I found instructions for transporting nuclear bombs in CFR 49. Just follow the cook book.

I flew 135 for 25 years carrying passengers and cargo for the oil and gas industry. Its legal to carry explosives in the same aircraft with a dozen passengers aboard. Likewise, radioactive material. And its blessed by the Security Division of FAA. The big thing is the packaging and labeling.

Bob

[lkorona]

Explosives pyrotechnics are prohibited from being transported? I don't think that statement is accurate. CFR 49 is availkable on line as an e-reg. Instructions are provided for transporting just about everything. Including explosives. In part 91,121 and 135 aircraft. I found instructions for transporting nuclear bombs in CFR 49. Just follow the cook book.

I flew 135 for 25 years carrying passengers and cargo for the oil and gas industry. Its legal to carry explosives in the same aircraft with a dozen passengers aboard. Likewise, radioactive material. And its blessed by the Security Division of FAA. The big thing is the packaging and labeling.

Bob

Sure they can be carried BUT provided you follow the guidelines which I'm sure also involves paperwork, permits and special packaging. You just can't put them in the back of the plane and take off. For all practical reasons, flying with your family under Part 91 ops with fireworks is not to be done. That's the message that AOPA was trying to send out.

[WLIU]

I will support the poster above who described carrying hazardous stuff. AOPA is being politically correct, not factual. If you read the rules you will find that there is a big hole where an individual can move personal stuff between airports that are not "air carrier" airports. But then, there is an argument that AOPA members all fly personal jets between large airports. Anyway, for your entertrainment, go look for rules that cover attaching pyro to aircraft and flying a show.

All of that said, if you don't know how to handle the material, please don't mess with it. Every 4th of July we see news stories about folks who hurt themselves. I will note that the fireworks companies are always looking for grunt labor and there are avenues into that workforce for folks who want to learn how its done and think that standing really near a rack of 200 or more mortars in the dark as flames ripple down the mouths of the rows of guns as the night sky fills with color is a cool way to spend an evening after a hard day's labor setting up. Bring a hard hat, hearing protection, and gloves. Not for sissies.

Fly safe,

Wes
N78PS

[Bill Campbell]

Sure, hauling dynamite, TNT, C-4, Semtex is no big deal. Wouldn't put dentonators in the same box, would light any fuses but unless the dynamite is sweating not an insurmountable hazard.