Air Transport Certification

What air transport certification does

A qualified third-party laboratory reviews composition data and test results and determines whether the cargo is dangerous, whether it can travel as general goods by air, and what packaging and marking conditions apply. The report is normally headed as an aviation transport condition certificate.

• Acceptance. Airlines and cargo terminals require a certificate for certain categories before accepting the cargo.
• Screening. The report is what screening uses to judge the cargo; without it, cargo can be refused outright.
• Booking. The forwarder and airline use it to decide whether to handle the shipment as general cargo or as dangerous goods.
• Liability. It is the shipper's written statement of the cargo characteristics.

Which cargo needs it

Lithium batteries: UN38.3 and certification

Lithium batteries are the largest single category in air certification, and they involve two documents: a UN38.3 test report and an aviation transport condition certificate. UN38.3 is the transport safety testing requirement for lithium batteries under the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, demonstrating that the cell is safe under transport conditions.

• Cell chemistry. Lithium-ion and lithium-metal follow different rules, and cells shipped alone, packed with equipment, or installed in equipment are treated differently again.
• Capacity limits. There are explicit limits on cell and battery capacity and lithium content. Above them, general cargo carriage is not available.
• Marking and packaging. A lithium battery mark and compliant packaging are required, and in some cases a state-of-charge limit applies.
• Channel policy. Most air channels do not accept loose cells at all, so a dedicated qualified channel is needed.

Testing magnetic cargo

Magnetic cargo does not burn or corrode, but a strong field can interfere with aircraft navigation and instruments, so air transport applies a separate magnetic field strength limit. Common categories are magnets, speakers, motors, transformers, and electronic products with loudspeakers.

• Field measurement. A qualified laboratory measures the field strength at the prescribed distance from the package.
• Determination. Cargo within the limit travels as general goods; cargo above it needs shielding and retesting.
• Shielded packaging. Wrapping in ferrous or specialist shielding material reduces the external field.
• Retesting. After shielding, the package has to be measured again and a new report issued. The original no longer applies.

How to apply and what to send

1. Confirm with your forwarder or airline whether the product and channel require a certificate.
2. Prepare the safety data sheet, composition and formula, product specification, manufacturer details, and battery parameters where relevant.
3. Prepare a representative sample matching the production batch, to the laboratory's requirements.
4. Submit to a qualified laboratory and settle the fee.
5. The laboratory tests according to the cargo characteristics; for batteries it also checks the UN38.3 report.
6. Collect the report and check that the product name, composition, and conclusion match what you will declare.

Validity and re-testing

• The report states its validity period; on expiry, resubmit.
• A change of composition or formula requires a new certificate even if the current one has not expired.
• A change of manufacturer normally requires a new certificate for the same product name.
• Some forwarders and airlines accept only reports issued within a set period, which is often stricter than the printed validity.
• A change of battery parameters, capacity, voltage, or cell supplier requires the report to be re-checked and often reissued.

Certification and the IATA rules

Air dangerous goods move under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, which set classification, packaging, marking, labelling, and documentation requirements. Where the certification conclusion is dangerous goods, the whole shipment follows the IATA rules.

• Classification and numbering. Determine the hazard class, UN number, and packing group.
• Packaging and marking. Use compliant packaging with the required marks and labels.
• Shipper's declaration. Completed and signed by trained, qualified personnel.
• Qualification. Staff handling dangerous goods need the corresponding training certification.
• Route restrictions. Some countries and airlines ban particular classes, so each case has to be confirmed.