CAAC issues safety notice on passenger aircraft for cargo flights
Xinhua
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Protective medical suits are unloaded at Changsha Huanghua International Airport in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 5, 2020. (File photo: Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China's civil aviation authorities have issued a notice for operation safety on passenger aircraft for cargo flights, amid increasing air transport for anti-pandemic supplies.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China(CAAC) issued the notice to guide carriers to fully evaluate and ensure safe operation of their passenger airplanes for cargo flights, said the CAAC notice.

The air transport market at home and abroad has been experiencing significant changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a sharp decline in the passenger sector and explosive demands on air cargo flights.

It is popular among global carriers to use passenger aircraft to carry cargo, especially the medical and other emergency supplies.

The notice is issued to ensure the safety of their operations in accordance with regulations and public interest, said the CAAC in the notice.

There are major differences in passenger cabins and belly cabins for freight, such as in systems of smoke detection and firefighting. Before using passenger aircraft for cargo missions, carriers should fully evaluate the conditions of the passenger cabin and cargo and adopt effective measures to avoid risks, said the notice.

Carriers should be more prudent in making decisions such as removing seats in the passenger cabin and loading cargo on the cabin floor, said the CAAC notice.

The CAAC notice also offered detailed recommendations in aspects such as dangerous goods regulations, cargo preparation, cargo loading and unloading and the flight crew.