What it is
Two IATA publications shape almost every air shipment. The TACT Rules are the industry’s reference for air cargo procedures, the air waybill and the rating conventions — including the volumetric ratio that decides the chargeable weight.
The Dangerous Goods Regulations are the field manual of the ICAO Technical Instructions: which goods may fly, in what quantities, how they are packed, marked and declared, and what training a shipper needs.
Where it applies
Worldwide, through the airlines and forwarders that apply them. The chargeable-weight ratio is a market convention, not a law: each carrier may apply its own, and express integrators commonly use 1:5000.
What to know
- 01Chargeable weight is the greater of the gross weight and the volumetric weight; IATA’s convention is 1:6000, i.e. 167 kg per cubic metre.
- 02The air waybill is a receipt and evidence of the contract of carriage; unlike a bill of lading it is not a document of title.
- 03Dangerous goods by air are classified in the same nine classes and UN numbers as the ADR and the IMDG Code, but the quantity limits and packing instructions are stricter and differ between passenger and cargo aircraft.
- 04Shippers of dangerous goods by air need DGR training and must sign the shipper’s declaration; a forwarder may not accept an undeclared package.
- 05The DGR is published every year; the edition in force must be used.
Who needs to know it
- Air freight forwarders and rating staff quoting per chargeable kilogram.
- Shippers and packers of dangerous goods by air.
- Air and sea students: air cargo basics, security and DGR are examined blocks.
An informative summary, not legal advice. Always check the current text of the rule before deciding.