Working for safe ground operations

IATA works to drive efficiency in all areas of cargo operations. The integration of those efficiencies into operations plays an increasingly critical role for today’s air freight industry.

With a plan aligned to Cargo Committee's priorities, working with the Ground Handling Council and other sub-groups, the IATA Cargo Handling Consultative Council (ICHC) brings together cargo handlers and airlines involved in cargo operations. Its objective is to develop best-practice processes and procedures to address all aspects of cargo acceptance and handling.

ULDs and airmail

IATA is aware of the importance of a safe, proper and effective management, use and control of Load Devices (ULDs). Over USD 300 millions are spent each year on repairing damaged ULDs, a result of poor industry awareness and training. ULDs are also the most frequent cause of damage to aircraft on the ground, according to IATA’s Ground Damage Database (GDDB).

Air mail is also an essential part of IATA's scope for cargo operations. Through the Air Mail Board (AMB), IATA works in close collaboration with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to guarantee an efficient supply chain for the delivery of e-commerce goods as well as your regular mail.

Dwell times in the air cargo supply chain

It is obvious to all stakeholders that the transportation time from the shipper to the consignee needs to be reduced. ICHC investigates this issue and started to perform various measurements to assess those areas where processes could be improved. IATA will later share its views with the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG)​ members.​​​​​

Transparency to improve handling

The Smart Facility Checklist contains a list of capabilities against which a cargo facility could be measured. Initially presented in the form of a checklist, its purpose is to enhance handling capabilities to a consistently high standard, and identify potential non-compliances in critical areas like safety or security.

Get the checklist

Download for free the Smart Facility Checklist to self-assess and verify the current capabilities of your facilities.

Before its approval, the Smart Facility Checklist went through ten self-assessments from ICHC members and a consultation and commentary phase in 2014. The checklist contains the approval of the IATA Cargo Service Conference (CSC) and its sub-groups (i.e. DGB, LAPB, ULDB, CBMB…etc.), the Ground Handling Council (IGHC), in addition to the Airport Services Association (ASA).

• Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)
• Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO)
• ACC3 Validation
• Cargo IQ

Help us improve

To investigate this validation model, IATA is looking for volunteers who would be ready to be assessed by an ICHC member carrier to understand the full extent of value the Smart Facility Checklist.

• If you are interested in collaborating, please contact us.
  

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The Cargo Recommended SLA

The primary purpose of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) in the air cargo environment is to measure critical elements of service in order to manage the customer expectation. It ensures a consistent delivery of operational standard as contractually agreed. 

Try the new SLA

IATA is looking for volunteers ready to launch the template as a mutual and joint exercise. Contact us if you are interested. 

An all-inclusive agreement

The Cargo Recommended SLA is comprehensive document for local procedures, contractual items, station startup requirements and more. The new SLA background also provides an implementation guide easy to understand. The document focuses on three axes: 

• The major milestones specifically related to the warehouse and office process, using the Master Operating Plan (MOP) milestones as a basis
• Customer experience (freight forwarder/shipper)
• Competency and culture, in compliance with standard manuals and SOP’s, training standards, and other guidelines

Over the last years ICHC members noticed very large variations in the type and length of SLAs. These variations result in inefficient application of the SLAs and in many cases non-measurement, defeating the purpose. Together with the Aviation Ground Services Agreement Task Force (AGSA), ICHC developed a new Cargo Recommended Service Level Agreement (SLA). This document is now endorsed by AGSA, ICHC and the IGHC, and will be published in the 2017 edition of the AHM.

Cargo and ground operations 

The IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM)  is your current source for the latest industry-approved standards harmonizing ground handling processes and procedures for frontline personnel.

Safety audit for ground operations

Today, ISAGO uses the scope of the IATA Ground Operation Manual (IGOM), and contains 21 topics related to cargo safety working instructions out of 85 core cargo handling topics currently found in the airlines cargo operations manuals. 

ICHC is investigating the possibility to extend the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO)  audit to the core Cargo Operations. This would allow for standardization and not overly burden the industry in creating a new audit.

IATA Cargo Handling Manual (ICHM)

Since 2012, the industry showed their desire for stand-alone instructions on Cargo Handling. ICHC has now finished the draft of a standardized IATA Cargo Handling Manual (ICHM) upon which an enhanced ISAGO could be based. This manual will be effective on 01st of March 2017.​

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