Professional Full English Translation (For Google Independent Site / Corporate News, Aviation Standard Terminology)
Effective May 1, 2026, the national standard Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Aircraft Pallets (GB/T 18227-2025) was officially implemented, replacing the old version GB/T 18227-2000. Wuxi Aviation Ground Equipment Co., Ltd. is one of the primary drafting organizations of this standard.
Revision Background: Keeping Pace with New Developments in Air Logistics
Driven by the rapid growth of China's air logistics industry, the civil aviation sector has seen a dramatic rise in cargo and mail throughput over the past decade, alongside continuous expansion in airport scale, airport quantity and dedicated freighter fleets. As standardized loading units widely deployed across air logistics, aircraft pallets play a critical role in boosting loading and unloading efficiency and safeguarding both cargo and flight safety.
The legacy standard GB/T 18227-2000 has been in use for more than two decades. The industry has raised new technical requirements covering pallet models, maximum operating gross mass, ultimate load capacity and test procedures, rendering the old standard unable to meet current operational demands. Meanwhile, international standards such as ISO 21100 Air cargo unit load devices - Performance requirements and test parameters have undergone revisions. Revising the national standard became necessary to align with international norms.
Key Revisions
Compared with the 2000 edition, the new standard features major revisions in multiple dimensions:
1. Standard Title and Scope of Application
The standard title was revised from Technical Specifications and Test Methods for Air Cargo Pallets to Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Aircraft Pallets. Its scope is expanded to cover aircraft pallets with dimension codes A, B, G, K, L, M, N, Q, R and S.
2. Updated Marking Specifications
The original separate chapters of "Symbols" and "Marks" are consolidated into a unified section "Markings". New CTSO marking requirements are added to align with the latest editions of ISO 21100 and IATA ULD Regulations (ULDR).
3. Upgraded Technical Specifications
- A new ultimate load test is introduced with stricter criteria than the original static strength and cross-transporter tests
- A new minimum frame stiffness test is added
- Tie-down track strength tests are updated to comply with higher double-stud fitting requirements
- Additional technical parameters including pallet thickness dimensions are incorporated
4. Alignment with International Standards
The standard fully complies with the latest specifications of ISO 21100, IATA ULDR and other international standards, ensuring domestic aircraft pallet products satisfy global universal requirements.
Primary Drafting Organizations
Per information published on the National Standards Information Public Service Platform, the core drafting participants are listed below:
- Water Transport Institute of the Ministry of Transport
- Wuxi Aviation Ground Equipment Co., Ltd.
- Xiamen Tongcheng Logistics Co., Ltd.
- Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport
- Air China Cargo Co., Ltd.
- China Eastern Airlines Logistics Co., Ltd.
- China Southern Airlines Cargo Co., Ltd.
Wuxi Aviation Ground Equipment earned its position among standard drafters thanks to nearly 40 years of technical accumulation and industry contributions in ULD manufacturing. It is one of China's early manufacturers to obtain FAA TSO design approval. All its products comply with IATA standards and have long-term supply partnerships with major domestic and foreign airlines and airport cargo terminals.
Consistency between product performance and national standards is the bottom line for safe equipment operation. As a drafting participant of the national standard, Wuxi Aviation Ground Equipment designs, manufactures and tests all aircraft pallets strictly in accordance with the new national standard, guaranteeing compliance with updated benchmarks for ultimate load capacity, frame stiffness, tie-down strength and other core indicators.
More Standard Accomplishments: Drafter of 3 National Standards & 2 Industrial Standards
Notably, Wuxi Aviation Ground Equipment Co., Ltd. serves as a primary drafting organization for three national standards related to aviation ULDs:
| Standard No. | Standard Name | Implementation Date |
| GB/T 18227-2025 | Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Aircraft Pallets | May 1, 2026 |
| GB/T 18228-2025 | Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Aircraft Pallet Nets | May 1, 2026 |
| GB/T 16299-2025 | Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Aircraft Containers | May 1, 2026 |
In addition, the company participated in drafting two transportation industry standards:
- JT/T 1422-2022 Lifting-type ULD Conveyors
- JT/T 1423-2022 Roller Conveyor Systems for ULD Transporters
Value to Customers
For airlines and freight forwarders, selecting aircraft pallets manufactured to GB/T 18227-2025 means the equipment meets state-certified safety benchmarks in core indicators including structural strength, rigidity and ultimate load capacity. As a core drafter of the new national standard, Wuxi Aviation Ground Equipment holds an inherent advantage in interpreting and implementing standard provisions - those who formulate the standards know best how to fully comply with them.
"Safe to Load, Safe to Fly." We uphold this core principle with nearly four decades of manufacturing expertise, backed by official national standard accreditation.
