Ac 120-85.w &b cargo

AC 120-85 Date: 6/20/05

ADVISORY CIRCULAR

AIR CARGO OPERATIONS

Flight Standards Service Washington, D.C.

Initiated By: AFS-300

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AC 120-85

PREFACE
Proper cargo loading is essential for safe flight operations. The air carrier must have procedures in place to ensure that employees and vendors are properly trained in the process, the loading is properly completed, andthat cargo restraints and loading devices are properly maintained. The loading personnel, flightcrew, and flight engineer must all take responsibility to ensure that the process is completed correctly. This advisory circular (AC) responds to safety recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board after an accident in which basic steps were not followed during the loading of theaccident flight. Adhering to the recommendations in this AC is one means (but not the only means) for air carriers to better manage their air cargo operations.

/s/ James J. Ballough Director, Flight Standards Service

Page i (and ii)

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AC 120-85

CONTENTS
Page CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INFORMATION..................................................................................1 CHAPTER2. OPERATIONAL PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES..........................................3 Section 1. General...................................................................................................................... 3 Section 2. Weight and Balance Procedures ............................................................................... 4 Section 3. Cargo Handling System Components, SmokeBarriers, and Installed Nets............. 6 Section 4. Maintenance of ULDs and Other Cargo Restraint Devices.................................... 11 Section 5. Cargo Weigh Scales................................................................................................ 18 Section 6. Cargo Restraint and Airplane Loading and Unloading .......................................... 20 Section 7. LoadSupervision, Load Verification, and Air Carrier Audits .............................. 29 Section 8. Training................................................................................................................... 31 CHAPTER 3. CERTIFICATION .................................................................................................37 Section 1.General.................................................................................................................... 37 Section 2. Airplane Configuration ........................................................................................... 37 Section 3. Unit Load Devices (ULD) ...................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER 4. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION................................................................45 APPENDIX 1. RELATED REGULATIONS (2 pages).............................................................1 APPENDIX 2. REGULATORY AND GUIDANCE MATERIAL (2 pages)...........................1 APPENDIX 3. DEFINITIONS RELATED TO AIR CARGO OPERATIONS (2 pages) .....1 APPENDIX 4. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS (1 page) ............................................1APPENDIX 5. SUGGESTED STRUCTURAL DATA FOR PASSENGER-TOCARGO CONVERSION PROJECT (3 pages)...........................................................................1 APPENDIX 6. PASSENGER-TO-CARGO CONVERSIONS SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA PACKAGE FOR SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT (3pages).................................................................................................................1 APPENDIX 7. DESIGN CRITERIA FOR OUTWARD OPENING DOORS (1 page) .........1 APPENDIX 8. TRANSPORT CATEGORY AIRPLANE ICA CHECKLIST (4 pages)......1

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AC 120-85

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INFORMATION
100. PURPOSE. a. This AC provides air carriers with recommended procedures for managing air carrier cargo operations. It provides recommendations about what items should...