Professional Documents
Culture Documents
(UPG)
Version
February 2020
Unilode Aviation Solutions
www.Unilode.com
A. Definitions .......................................................................................................................................3
B. Record of Revisions .........................................................................................................................5
1. Unilode Aviation Solutions ..............................................................................................................6
2. Services ...........................................................................................................................................6
2.1. ULD Management Solution ............................................................................................... 6
2.2. ULD Digitalization Solution ................................................................................................ 7
2.3. Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) .......................................................................... 8
2.4. Short- and medium-term ULD Leasing................................................................................ 8
3. Unit Load Device (ULD) ....................................................................................................................8
3.1. Pooled ULDs .................................................................................................................... 8
3.2. NON-Pooled ULDs (Dedicated ULD) ................................................................................. 10
3.3. Unilode Leasing ULDs ..................................................................................................... 11
4. Responsibilities .............................................................................................................................. 12
4.1. Responsibilities of Unilode Aviation Solutions ................................................................... 12
4.2. Responsibilities of Airline and its appointed Ground Handling Agents and Freight Forwarders12
5. ULD Messaging .............................................................................................................................. 14
5.1. UCM .............................................................................................................................. 14
5.2. SCM .............................................................................................................................. 15
5.3. LUC ............................................................................................................................... 15
5.4. Message Builder ............................................................................................................. 16
6. Damage ULD Reporting.................................................................................................................. 16
7. Contacts ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Consumables Means auxiliary equipment including but not limited to straps, pallet
joiners, plastic sheeting, wood, steel beams, absorbent material, double
stud fittings and mosquito nets for horse boxes.
UNILODE’s customers responsibility and bear all costs associated
Damaged ULD A ULD that is subject to normal wear and tear which UNILODE will be
responsible for and bear all costs associated with all repairs and
replacements necessary
Dedicated ULD A UNILODE ULD with the customer’s IATA code and decals that remains
allocated to the customer, rather than being pooled
Loss / Lost / Lost ULD A ULD that has become Lost or is determined Lost after not appearing
on either a UCM, CPM, SCM or LUC message, or not being recorded as
LUC The electronic ULD Control Receipt or ULD Exchange Control in IATA
format as per AHM 422
On Loan ULD A ULD outside of the UNILODE customer network (Other Airline, Out to
Agent, released to e.g. a freight forwarder, etc.)
Pooled ULD A UNILODE branded, standard ULD with an R7 IATA designator code
which is customer interchangeable, to be supplied and moved within
the UNILODE pooled network
Replacement Costs Costs published on the customer Portal of the UNILODE website
reflecting UNILODE’s current full costs to replace a ULD or pallet net in
case of BER or Loss
Representatives Appointed contacts and escalation levels within both UNILODE and the
customers
TSO / ETSO FAA term for Technical Standard Order and the EASA term for
European Technical Standard Order, allowing a common design
approach to aircraft components
UCM ULD Control Message for departing (UCM OUT) or arriving (UCM IN)
flights and trucks in IATA format as per AHM 424
ULD Unit Load Device and all containers and pallets (including pallet nets)
used to load e.g. baggage and cargo into containerized aircraft, as
described in this Agreement and defined in the IATA ULD Regulations,
provided, maintained and managed by UNILODE and allocated to the
customer
Unreported ULD A ULD not appearing on either a UCM, CPM, SCM or LUC message, or
not recorded as in repair and/or in storage for more than 34 days.
Unreported ULDs remain part of the CCS until recovery or become Lost
after agreed period with UNILODE’s Clients
B. RECORD OF REVISIONS
Unilode Aviation Solutions, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, manages the world’s largest
outsourced ULD fleet and owns the largest global network for the maintenance and repair of ULD
and galley carts (450,000+ ULDs and galley carts serviced annually).
UNILODE focuses on the outsourced management and associated services for aviation containers,
pallets and inflight food service equipment. UNILODE serves over 80+ airlines through a network of
more than 505+ airports, 16 regional offices and 47 certified repair stations (33 of which are owned
by UNILODE), supported by more than 650 experts. Since 2017 UNILODE is owned by leading private
equity group EQT.
The global network below illustrates UNILODE Repair Centres, ULD Management staff and Regional
ULD Management Operations Centres, an organisation which is constantly expanding to meet the
requirements of its airline customers.
2. SERVICES
2.1. ULD Management Solution
To manage ULDs on behalf of its airline customers, UNILODE requires from the airline customers
and/or their appointed Ground Handling Agents, the same ULD movement messages which are to be
provided to the airline under the IATA SGHA – as a minimum UCM (Out and In), SCM and LUC
messages must be sent to UNILODE.
To facilitate ULD Management Process, UNILODE will send Disposition Request, to the airline
customers and/or their appointed Ground Handling Agents, instructing which type and number of
ULDs that need to be loaded on any given flight, or transferred among airlines, in order to support
ULD stock balancing for the benefit of pooling airlines.
As the world’s largest ULD management company we do understand the complexity and challenges
of managing ULDs. As early as 2014 Unilode set out to explore the prerequisites and benefits of a
digitalised ULD fleet. Unilode’s digital solution is a collaboration with leading industrial partners in
order deliver best-in- class service.
The Unilode Bluetooth® v.5 tracking device is much more than a simple tag to locate an ULD. All
container tags are equipped with a variety of sensors that allow to gain a deeper insight into
container movements. The below feature-cycle explains which functionalities are available.
Unilode‘s intelligent ULDs are compliant with all regulations & clearly identifiable!
UNILODE also provides maintenance and repair services for ULDs and ground support equipment
across the world’s largest network of 50 certified service stations. With solutions to remove the
burden and unnecessary costs of shipping damaged equipment back to your hub and increase space
for revenue-generating cargo.
Certifications held: Part 145 of FAA, EASA, CASA, CAAS, CAA, including dual certification.
IATA designator code “R7", the ending two-character suffix on every ULD of UNILODE, as well as
leasing ULDs have the dedicated IATA designator code “C6”, will remain, whether with Unitpool AG
livery, CHEP Aerospace Solutions livery or with Unilode Aviation Solutions livery, and will continue to
be exclusively available to all our pooling airlines.
UNILODE ULD must ONLY be used/ shared among the carriers listed hereunder. Unless approved/
requested by UNILODE. In addition to the R7 pooled ULD, all of the following airlines’ ULDs, which
may not yet be rebranded to R7, are also owned by UNILODE and can only be used for any of the
UNILODE pooling airline group.
SV – Saudi Airlines Cargo SW – Air Namibia TB – TUI Fly Belgium TN – Air Tahiti Nui
WGA – Western Global Airlines XJ – Thai AirAsia X XT – Air Asia X Indonesia XW – NokScoot
The label example below illustrates how the dedicated airline ULDs will be branded. The ULDs are
only to be used by the airline whose brand/airline IATA or ICAO code appears on the ULD.
Such ULDs are owned by UNILODE but will be dedicated to the airlines listed only.
They will carry the airline’s ID code and will be co-branded with both the airline and UNILODE logo.
UNILODE owns a dedicated asset base of ULDs (mainly PMCs, HD pallets and AKEs).
These units hold the IATA designator code “C6”.
It is the responsibility of UNILODE to provide the airline customer with airworthy ULDs to the levels
agreed each month between the airline customer and UNILODE. UNILODE manages these ULDs
across the network using the information provided by the airline or its GHAs.
Description Comment
Providing Airworthy ULDs – As required by the ULD stock levels set by UNILODE
operation, per monthly agreement with each pooling Account Manager and the customer
airline customer on a monthly basis
Message Control – UNILODE will correct errors of Managed through UNILODE’s Global
messages rejected by UNILODE’s ULD management Operations Centre (GOC) in BKK
system notifying respective counterpart as defined in
Joint Protocol (JP)
Stock Control – UNILODE oversees and supports Managed by ULD Management Team
tracking and tracing any ULD that has not been reported and Global/Regional Operations
or could potentially lose with the airline or its GHAs Centres
Stock Balancing - UNILODE manages ULD station stocks Managed by ULD Management Team
against the Customer Chargeable Stock (CCS). UNILODE and Global/Regional Operations
will issue disposition requests to ensure the ULD stock is Centres
consistently maintained at the agreed level.
4.2. Responsibilities of Airline and its appointed Ground Handlers and Freight Forwarders
It is the airline’s and/or its Ground Handling Agents’ and Freight Forwarders’ responsibility to provide
UNILODE with schedules, ULD messages on the whereabouts of UNILODE assets which are
exclusively available for the operation of the pooling airlines, as well as airworthiness reports on the
condition of the ULD. The table below outlines the responsibilities of the airline and/or its Ground
Handling Agents’ and Freight Forwarders’.
Unless otherwise specified in the Joint Protocol (JP) between Unilode Aviation Solutions and the
pooling airline customer, the following obligations and timeframes apply.
LUC - ULD Control Receipt or ULD Exchange Within one hour SITA: HDQUPXD, or
Control after transfer to Sita.hdqupxd@unitpool.com,
other 3rd party or or via Message Builder
Required once UNILODE ULD transferred to
receive ULD back to
3rd party. LUC must be sent to UNILODE
custody
with clearly states of unit number, date and
time, transferring and receiving location
and party
UNILODE requires from the pooling airlines or its GHAs the same ULD movement messages which
are already provided to the airline under the IATA SGHA (Standard Ground Handling Agreement).
UCM, SCM, CPM and LUC messages are mandatory to have transparency on the stock location.
UNILODE can receive the message through the following channels:
5.1. UCM
It’s essential to ensure that all the required key elements are identified in the UCM OUT. Such as
flight detail, date, registration, departing station, ULD number, destination and commodity code
Format of UCM to comply with the IATA AHM 424 (Maximum Information)
• UCM OUT
(Sample of Recommended Format)
UCM
AC0222/23.CFLSU.YVR
OUT
.AKH59030R7/YYC/E.AKH54400R7/YYC/B
.AKH56882R7/YYC/B.AKH12345R7/YYC/U
SI AKH12345R7 DAMAGED
Commodity Codes
B = Baggage E = Airline Equipment C = Cargo
M = Mail X = Empty U = Unserviceable ULD (damaged)
• UCM IN
(Sample of Recommended Format)
UCM
AC0033/23.CFNND.YVR
IN
.AKE16746R7.AKE19830R7.AKE18211R7
.AKE20916R7.PLA53087R7
SI AKE16746R7 DAMAGED
Note: In the case of no ULD onboarded, UCM Out and In are also required to state with .N in the
message body as mention in IATA AHM 424, to indicate nil ULD onboarded.
Date and time on SCM must be reported in the local date/time at the station when the stock check
physically conducted [and not the time of sending the message].
SCM
MAN.21NOV/1031
.AKE.16689R7/16860R7/23554R7/16458R7/13813R7.T5
.XKG.17498R7/17372R7.T2
.PAG.26322R7/25563R7/60979R7/47504R7.T4
.PMC.62731R7/69142R7/52917R7/65065R7/53420R7.T5
SI PAG.26322R7/25563R7 DAMAGED
5.3. LUC
Once the UCR form is completed. LUC must be sent with the details of transfer to UNILODE in the
IATA format
HDQUPXD
.AMSFFRU
LUC
AKE40210R7/17MAY17/1720/YYINDITEX/RU/AMS/580-A017051720/AMS/SER
ALF06135R7/17MAY17/1720/YYINDITEX/RU/AMS/580-A117051720/AMS/SER
HDQUPXD
.AMSFFRU
LUC
AKE40210R7/20MAY17/1005/RU/YYINDITEX/AMS/580-B017051720/AMS/SER
ALF06135R7/20MAY17/1005/RU/YYINDITEX/AMS/580-B117051720/AMS/DAM
SI ALF06135R7 DAMAGED
SI usually consists of additional information such as damaged ULDs or auxiliary equipment loaded or
received on the flight. When stating if a ULD is damaged the ULD ID codes must also be stated.
UNILODE provides a free platform to generate syntactically correct IATA type messages to capture
ULD movements and stock takes. This platform allows ground handlers and agents to capture data
using standardised data entry forms and directly feeds UNILODE's tracking software automatically.
Whereas data entry is the main purpose of the system, Message Builder provides the user with
additional benefits over SITA or regular email messaging.
A variety of other options, namely data import and export as well as ULD search, allows the user to
efficiently create and re-use entered information.
For more information visit https://msgbuilder.Unilode.com/public/
Damaged ULDs should be reported immediately, at the latest either via E-mail, UCM, SCM or LUC by
adding a line at the end of the message which begins with SI. The remainder of the message is
exactly as described earlier in this document.
UNILODE will send the GHA instructions to which location to send the damaged ULD for repairs or
advise to contact the repair provider directly to arrange for pick-up of the damaged ULD.
Important!
This requirement is made stated in the IATA ULD Regulations Sec.2.6.2. It is the duty of any person
working on or around ULDs to ensure that any unit having damage exceeding the allowable limit
shall immediately be isolated from serviceable units, identified as unserviceable, and sent for repair.
Operational Damage Limits (ODL) for ULDs and nets can be found at www.Unilode.com/portal-login/
April Northern
Quality Manager, Americas
3340-C Greens Road Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77032
Tel: 281 809 2111
Mobile: 281-787-3771
April.Northern@Unilode.com
7.7 Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) – Europe, Middle East and Africa
Frank Majoor Kevin Sterkmans Jacob Stig Nielsen
Manager, UNILODE AMS Manager, UNILODE BRU Manager, UNILODE CPH
Uiverweg 6, 1118 DS Schiphol, Lambrechtsstraat 14 Copenhagen Airport South
The Netherlands 1820 Melsbroek, Belgium Building 280, DK-2791 Dragor,
Mobile: +31 6 2256 7684 Tel: +32 2 751 55 77 Denmark
EASA Part-145 #: NL.145.1158 Mobile: +32 470 640 331 Tel: +45 32 46 2020
FAA Part-145 # : 6DGY962B EASA# NL.145.1158 : FAA# 6DGY962B EASA Part-145 #: DK.145.014
Frank.Majoor@Unilode.com Kevin.Sterkmans@Unilode.com Jacob.Nielsen@unilode.com
9. GENERAL INQUIRIES
Note: Unless otherwise specific contact information defined in the Joint Protocol (JP) and agreed
bilaterally between UNILODE and its customers.