DGCA issues guidelines related to COVID 19 vaccine transportation to airlines

Indian aviation
regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday issued guidelines
to all aircraft operators planning to transport COVID 19 vaccines to different
parts of the country, highlighting the necessary safety precautions and
guidelines, PTI reported.

The regulation
stated that in case of the vaccines being transported in the passenger cabin of
the aircraft, the crew must be trained in the hazards and risks of its
transportation.

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“Adequate
number of carbon dioxide detectors should be available in the cabin. Such
detectors should be located at locations for timely and reliable detection of
dangerous concentration of carbon dioxide. All operators while engaging in
transportation of COVID-19 vaccines packed with dry ice shall establish the
maximum quantity of dry ice that can be loaded in a given cargo hold or in the
main deck (passenger cabin) when a passenger version is deployed for all cargo
operations,” PTI quoted the DGCA regulations as saying.

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Informing the hazards,
it noted that dry ice transforms into Carbon Dioxide gas at temperatures higher
than minus 78 degrees, therefore being classified as ‘dangerous goods’ by
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Dry ice is very
commonly used as a refrigerant material for air transportation of perishables.