Due to the increase in incidents of some drum failures aboard aircraft, many domestic and international airlines are considering a ban on drum shipments. Focused primarily on smaller sized drums that are of 20 gauge (0.9mm) or less, failures due to regular loading and unloading of cargo, has produced a concern by Alitalia, British Air, Swissair, and a host of other carriers. While the airlines initially sought to ban all drum shipments, organizations such as the Hazardous Materials Advisory Council and the Airline Pilots Association are investigating the cause for these recent failures in the hopes of addressing a corrective action. Initial finding, however, points to the reduction in metal thickness as a contributor to problem.
Associations HazMat