Build trust with verified cargo compliance and capabilities
To do business with airlines, your cargo handling facility must demonstrate compliance with industry standards and best practices. Traditionally, this required undergoing separate audits from each airline, often leading to operational disruptions. With hundreds of handling companies operating at thousands of airports worldwide, standing out and attracting airline partnerships has become increasingly competitive.
The IATA Cargo Handling Facility Assessment (ICHFA) - formerly known as the Smart Facility Operational Capacity (SFOC) certification - was introduced on the recommendation of the IATA Cargo Handling Consultative Council (ICHC), the body responsible for maintaining and updating the IATA Cargo Handling Manual (ICHM). The ICHFA assesses Cargo Handling Facilities’ equipment, infrastructure, and procedures against IATA’s cargo handling standards listed in the ICHM and other cargo regulations.
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Take your cargo handling business to the next level
- Attract and retain new customers - The IATA Cargo Handling Facility Assessment builds trust in your cargo handling capabilities by validating your operational processes against industry standards. It raises your company’s profile and increases visibility of your facilities, equipment, and infrastructure through IATA’s ONE Source directory.
- Raise the bar for quality and efficiency - The assessment benchmarks your cargo handling procedures against industry standards, helping your organization implement best practices, improve staff efficiency, and enhance overall operational performance.
- Sharpen the focus on what matters most - By enabling airlines to reduce audit frequency and limit their scope to unique services and safety or security aspects, the IATA Cargo Handling Facility Assessment allows your team to focus on delivering high-quality service with fewer operational disruptions.
The certification affirms SATS’ consistent standards and the quality of our service. We hope other airlines will follow this example to realize the SFOC program's full audit efficiencies for the entire industry.
– Yacoob Piperdi, CEO, SATS Gateway Services
Ensure all your handling operations are up to standard
The IATA Cargo Handling Facility Assessment (ICHFA) evaluates your organization against the standards outlined in the IATA Cargo Handling Manual (ICHM) using the Smart Facility Standards Manual. The assessment covers the following areas:
- Generic cargo capabilities - A mandatory evaluation for all cargo handling facilities, regardless of specialization.
- Dangerous goods specialization (optional) - Based on the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), with the option to leverage CEIV Lithium Batteries where applicable.
- Temperature-sensitive cargo specialization (optional) - Based on the Temperature Control Regulations (TCR), with the option to leveraging CEIV Pharma where applicable.
- Perishable goods specialization (optional) - Based on the Perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR), with the option to leverage CEIV Fresh where applicable.
- Live animals specialization (optional) - Based on the Live Animals Regulations (LAR), with the option to leverage CEIV Live Animals where applicable.
A successful ICHFA certification confirms that your facility conforms to IATA Resolutions and Recommended Practices, validating your operational processes to handle general cargo and any applicable special cargo commodities.
Be supported every step of your SFOC journey
The IATA certification process is designed to guide and support your organization toward successful completion. We provide the understanding, tools, and expert advice needed to help you achieve your ICHFA certification. The process includes:
- Self-assessment - Once your key staff are trained, and with guidance from our team, they complete a self-assessment questionnaire to ensure all required materials, evidence, and documentation are available for the IATA assessor. If a service or process is outsourced, the facility operator must provide the latest contract or service-level agreement (SLA). At the end of each ICHFA standard, the “Company Operations Manual Reference” section allows the auditee to list references to their internal procedures, helping facilitate the documentation review during the audit.
- Document review - The IATA assessor reviews all documents submitted to prepare the on-site phase of the assessment process.
- On-site assessment - Over three to four days, the assessor visits the facility to observe operations and verify that processes and procedures align with the documentation provided. Each ICHFA standard is evaluated to determine whether procedures are observed, documented, and implemented. The assessor then provides detailed feedback, including a gap analysis report and a list of findings and improvement areas to help your organization make necessary adjustments.
- Validation - The assessor works closely with your team to ensure all feedback is addressed. Your organization must submit a corrective action plan (CAP) outlining completed and planned actions, along with implementation dates. Once the CAP is validated and fully implemented, the assessor issues the IATA Assessment Report and grants the ICHFA certification.
- Re-certification - To maintain your ICHFA certification, a follow-up assessment is conducted to verify continued compliance and support ongoing improvement.
Talk to a certification expert today to find out how we can help you ensure you're up to standard.
Note: IATA Certification does not handle the IATA accreditation program. If you are a travel agent or cargo agent, please visit the customer portal to get support regarding accreditation services and training.