Standard Procedures for Preloading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) Manual

The IATA PLACI manual provides additional air cargo supply chain security by enabling an initial risk assessment of the cargo being carried prior to the aircraft's loading at the last point of departure.

IATA's Preloading Advance Cargo Information Guidelines encapsulates and furthers the international standards set in the World Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards through improved procedural harmonization and the inclusion of such additional elements as transmission protocols.

Why use the PLACI manual?

The benefits of IATA's Preloading Advance Cargo Information Guidelines include:

• Alignment with regulatory requirements, such as US Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS), Canada Pre-Load Air Cargo Targeting (PACT), EU Pre-Loading Advance air Cargo Information (ICS2 PLACI) and UK Pre-Load Data Informed Targeting (also known as UK PreDICT), as well as future other PLACI initiatives worldwide

• Avoiding non-compliance issues with regulators and supply chain partners that could result in substantial penalties and severe delays in shipment times

• Having harmonized and standardized PLACI procedures in one user-friendly document
  
  

Relying on IATA's Preloading Advance Cargo Information Guidelines will assist:

• Airlines by enhancing customer service through improved efficiency and shipment timings as well as by providing a single PLACI reference point for multiple regulatory regimes and supply chain partners
• Freight Forwarders by providing a means to deal with a multifaceted, multi-layered air cargo supply chain in a consistent manner and, also, by clarifying PLACI-related rules and processes

• Customs Authorities by promoting the mutual recognition of procedures and by facilitating training based on industry-agreed standards

• Ground Handlers by establishing their responsibilities and obligations with well-documented procedures and by allowing them to better manage their resources based on advance information

• IT and Security by encouraging the promotion of standards to keep the air cargo supply chain secure and by providing a user-friendly way to assess existing initiatives and plan future upgrades

Stay up-to-date 

Significant changes and amendments to the 5th edition (2024) of the PLACI manual include:

•  EU PLACI system: A detailed summary and all slides used during the workshop that took place in June, held together with regulators from EU and other interested countries can now be found in the toolbox of the Manual.
•  Addition of business processes for postal operators and carriers. This provides new guidance for the management of “revised referrals” under EU ICS2.
•  Updates on the development and future implementation of PLACI programs in different countries such as the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Canada.
• Correction of some of the terminology used, as well as the structure of the manual, to ensure consistency and remains easy to read.