Why This Matters?

In the world of air cargo, safety is everyone’s responsibility. One area that deserves renewed attention is the integrity of aircraft pallet nets—specifically, the growing concern around Technical Standard Order (TSO) tags that do not appear to be genuine. These tags are essential for verifying the airworthiness of cargo restraint equipment, and any compromise can have serious safety consequences.

What’s Happening?

Recent observations raised by the aviation industry and reported to the IATA ULD Board (ULDB) have highlighted a troubling trend: expired aircraft pallet nets appear to  be relabeled with TSO tags that display expiry dates which may not be supported by the equipment manufacturer (see pictures below). This practice undermines the safety of cargo operations and could lead to dangerous situations during flight.

Description of Finding:

The TSO tag observed in the image exhibits an unusual arching deformation, resembling a wave-like curve rather than lying flat against the surface. This irregular shape suggests that the TSO tag may have been reapplied or tampered with, as genuine TSO tags are typically affixed securely and uniformly. The curvature could indicate the presence of an underlying tag, adhesive layering, or improper reattachment—raising suspicion of falsification.

Description of Finding:

A TSO tag displaying an expiration date of "EXP: 10/2025" was affixed directly on top of the original tag, which shows an earlier expiration date of "EXP: 2024-12." The peeling action captured in the image clearly exposes the underlying genuine tag. This type of manipulation poses a serious safety risk and highlights the importance of careful inspection for layered or altered tags.

Understanding the Standards

Aircraft pallet nets manufactured as of 1st January 2014 are required to have an expiry date clearly marked, regardless of TSO version. This requirement is part of the IATA ULD Regulations (ULDR) and is intended to ensure that nets are traceable and used within their safe service life.

While some earlier TSO versions—such as —do not mandate expiry date marking, the ULDR applies this rule universally to all new nets. This helps promote consistent safety practices across the industry.

Materials used in the construction of aircraft pallet nets are subject to environmental degradation—even when stored under controlled conditions. As part of the regulatory approval requirements, aircraft pallet nets undergo environmental testing to determine the performance limits over time. Based on the test results, the is defined, for which the aircraft pallet net is expected to maintain its full performance.

What Are the Risks?

Using service-life expired aircraft pallet nets can be hazardous, potentially resulting in:

  • Unverified restraint capability, leading to uncertainty in load security during flight operations
  • Potential aircraft damage or loss of control due to in-flight load shift caused by compromised net integrity
  • Personnel injury resulting from ineffective load restraint during handling

These are not just technical issues—they are real safety risks.

What Can You Do?

Whether you are an operator, ground handler or freight forwarder, some practical steps to help maintain safety are:

  • Conduct ULD serviceability checks and visually detectable damage checks in accordance with IATA ULD Regulations.

Notes:

  • To determine whether a ULD is serviceable, a complete ULD serviceability check shall be performed. This includes checking all the ULD components listed on the ULD Operational Damage Limits Notice (ODLN) —including the TSO tag
  • A complete ULD serviceability check should be conducted before ULD build-up (when the ULD is empty), and optionally after ULD break-down or before transferring to/from storage
  • Once a ULD is built up, a complete ULD serviceability check becomes almost impossible. Therefore, visually detectable damage checks should be performed during ULD operations
  • Inspect TSO tags for presence, legibility, and valid expiry dates.

Notes:

Be alert for suspicious or potentially tampered TSO tags, such as:

  • Tags layered on top of one another
  • Tags with obvious spelling errors
  • Immediately remove from service any aircraft pallet net with:
  • Missing or illegible TSO tag
  • Expired service life
  • Suspected falsified TSO tag

Let’s Work Together

If you come across any irregularities:

  • If you are not an operator? Please report it to the operator immediately.
  • If you are the operator? Report the occurrence through your safety management.
  • You can also notify the IATA ULDB at uld@iata.org.

Final Thoughts

Aviation safety standards are often developed in response to learning from incidents. By staying informed and vigilant, we can remain alert to those occasions where safety is being eroded.