49 CFR § 175.702 - Separation distance requirements for packages containing Class 7 (radioactive) materials in cargo aircraft.

§ 175.702 Separation distance requirements for packages containing Class 7 (radioactive) materials in cargo aircraft.

(a) No person may carry in a cargo aircraft any package required by § 172.403 of this subchapter to be labeled Radioactive Yellow–II or Radioactive Yellow–III unless:

(1) The total transport index for all packages does not exceed 50.0 and the packages are carried in accordance with § 175.701(a); or

(2) The total transport index for all packages exceeds 50.0; and

(i) The separation distance between the surfaces of the radioactive materials packages, overpacks or freight containers and any space occupied by live animals is at least 0.5 m (20 inches) for journeys not exceeding 24 hours and at least 1.0 m (39 inches) for journeys longer than 24 hours; and

(ii) The minimum separation distances between the radioactive material and any areas occupied by persons that are specified in the following table are maintained:

Transport index or sum of transport indexes of all packages in the aircraft or predesignated area Minimum separation distances
Centimeters Inches
50.1 to 60.0 465 183
60.1 to 70.0 505 199
70.1 to 80.0 545 215
80.1 to 90.0 580 228
90.1 to 100.0 610 240
100.1 to 110.0 645 254
110.1 to 120.0 670 264
120.1 to 130.0 700 276
130.1 to 140.0 730 287
140.1 to 150.0 755 297
150.1 to 160.0 780 307
160.1 to 170.0 805 317
170.1 to 180.0 830 327
180.1 to 190.0 855 337
190.1 to 200.0 875 344

(b) In addition to the limits on combined criticality safety indexes stated in § 175.700(b),

(1) The criticality safety index of any single group of packages must not exceed 50.0 (as used in this section, the term “group of packages” means packages that are separated from each other in an aircraft by a distance of 6 m (20 feet) or less); and

(2) Each group of packages must be separated from every other group in the aircraft by not less than 6 m (20 feet), measured from the outer surface of each group.

[71 FR 14604, Mar. 22, 2006, as amended at 71 FR 54396, Sept. 14, 2006; 77 FR 60943, Oct. 5, 2012; 79 FR 40618, July 11, 2014]