Magnetized Material

Magnetized material is any material with magnetic force that can attract or repel other materials, particularly metals.

Magnetized material is defined in the
“IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations” as all material that when packaged for air transportation possesses a magnetic field force of 0.002 gauss or more, at a distance of 2.1 metres (7 feet) of any point of the surface of the consignment.

Acceptance

For the purpose of acceptance, LAM considers two categories of goods:

Magnetized material

Magnetized materials are goods that contain the specifications as defined by IATA Dangerous Goods Regulation.

  • This cargo cannot be accepted for transport if its magnetic force exceeds 0.00525 gauss (or a maximum deflection of 2 degrees in a “compass”) at a distance of 4.6 metres (15 feet) from any point of the vertical faces of the consignment
  • In such case, the cargo, in order to be transported must be armoured, or the magnetic force neutralized, so that it does not exceed those figures

Ferromagnetic metal masses

Any material containing iron metals possessing a magnetic field and, although not considered as dangerous cargo, may hold a magnetic charge sufficient to affect the aircraft instruments. The following list indicates the most common types of cargo, which when transported in quantities, can manifest a considerable magnetic force and so they required special handling:

  • Maritime equipment: crankshafts, ventilators, valves, iron and steel tubes, and girders
  • Machineries: captains, mechanical furnaces, gear pinions, heating equipments, aircraft engines, mechanical jacks, galvanized wiring, metal office equipment, agricultural machines, conductor tubes, and steel/iron moulds

LAM can refuse or turn back to the consignor any material which when loaded into the plane can cause excessive influence on the aircraft’s instruments.