The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the IATA Cargo Handling Manual (ICHM) to help airlines and cargo handlers work together more effectively while improving safety and efficiency in air cargo operations across the world.
The Manual’s table of contents, and details of how it can be purchased, can be found at www.iata.org.
Developed in consultation with air carriers and cargo handlers, and based on industry best practices, the Cargo-iQ Master Operating Plan (MOP) and international regulations and standards, the ICHM is the first complete set of standards covering the operational activities of all stakeholders in the cargo handling supply chain.
Glyn Hughes, Global Head of Cargo at IATA, said: “Cargo operations are performed at thousands of airports, by hundreds of handlers. With that number of parties involved, ensuring that global standards and best practices are being observed at all times is a constant challenge.”
The ICHM is a single reference source that will help promote global consistency and harmonisation of cargo handling procedures, he went on, thereby facilitating the movement of goods safely, securely and efficiently while contributing to a reduction in air freight logistic costs.
IATA has calculated that the ICHM brings together 90% of the information that is common to individual carrier cargo handling manuals. The manual develops and completes this information, Mr Hughes explained, bringing it up to current IATA standards.
