8801.00.00 - Balloons and dirigibles; gliders, hang gliders and other non-powered aircraft

This HTS category, 8801.00.00, encompasses a specific range of lighter-than-air and non-powered heavier-than-air aircraft. It includes traditional balloons and dirigibles, as well as gliders and hang gliders. The defining characteristic of items within this heading is their reliance on aerodynamic principles or buoyancy for flight, without the use of onboard engines or propulsion systems. This excludes any aircraft equipped with motors or other means of self-propulsion, which would fall under different HTS headings.

When classifying goods, it is crucial to distinguish these non-powered aircraft from powered aircraft found in other chapters of Section XVII. While this category focuses solely on unpowered flight devices, siblings in the HTS database cover a vast array of other goods, from live animals in Chapter 01 to various manufactured articles in later chapters. The key differentiator for 8801.00.00 is the absence of any mechanical propulsion.

The subcategories under 8801.00.00 further refine the classification. The specific listing for "Gliders and hang gliders" allows for the direct identification of these more specialized, unpowered aircraft. The residual category, "Other," is designated for balloons, dirigibles, and any other non-powered aircraft that do not fit the specific glider and hang glider definition, ensuring comprehensive coverage within this non-powered aircraft grouping.