The State Administration for Market Regulation (National Standardization Administration) approved and released the recommended national standard "Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Aircraft Container Pallet Wire Mesh" (GB/T 18228-2025) on October 5, 2025, which will be implemented from May 1, 2026.
I. Background of the Revision
Since its release and implementation, the national standard "Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Aircraft Container Pallet Wire Mesh" (GB/T 18228-2000) has played an important role in standardizing the manufacturing and use of aircraft container pallet wire mesh (hereinafter referred to as: pallet wire mesh). However, with the rapid development of the air transport industry, significant changes have occurred in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and my country's civil aviation regulations and technical standards. To align the manufacturing and testing methods of domestic air cargo pallet grating with international standards, meet international requirements, and ensure the applicability and advancement of the standard's technical content, the Ministry of Transport, in conjunction with the current development status and needs of my country's air cargo container sector, organized relevant units to revise the "Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Air Cargo Pallet Grate".
II. Standard Positioning and Role
This standard specifies the markings, dimensions, and gross weight of air cargo pallet grating, as well as basic and technical requirements. It also describes the test methods and applies to the design, production, and use of air cargo pallet grating with size codes A, B, G, K, L, M, N, R, and S.
The implementation of this revised standard will further standardize the design and manufacturing of air cargo pallet grating, provide strong technical support for production and maintenance enterprises, promote the standardized and regulated development of the air cargo container industry, and enhance the international market adaptability and competitiveness of my country's air cargo container products. Meanwhile, the implementation of this standard is of great significance for ensuring the safe, fast, and accurate transportation of air cargo, improving the service quality of air freight, reducing logistics costs, and enhancing the overall level of container multimodal transport.
III. Main Revisions
Compared with GB/T 18228-2000, this standard has made the following major revisions:
(I) Standard Name and Scope
In accordance with the requirements of standard drafting specifications, the standard name has been changed from "Technical Conditions and Test Methods for Air Freight Container Pallet Mesh" to "Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Air Freight Container Pallets." Based on the revised and added technical content of the standard, and combined with the current status and needs of my country's air transport development, the applicable scope of air freight container pallet mesh has been expanded, changing it to apply to the design, production, and use of air freight container pallet mesh with size codes A, B, G, K, L, M, N, R, and S.
(II) Marking
In accordance with the regulations and technical standards of my country's civil aviation, and in conjunction with the industry-standard container marking guidelines established in ISO 21100 and IATA ULDR, the following revisions are made: The previous versions of "symbols" and "marks" are integrated into "marking," and requirements for the composition of the marking are added; "mark" is changed to "identification mark," and its content is revised; CTSO marking requirements are added.
(III) Dimensions and Gross Operating Mass
Due to the expanded scope of palletized steel structures applicable to this standard, the dimensional and gross operating mass requirements proposed in the previous version are no longer suitable for the currently applicable palletized steel structures. Following the regulations and technical standards of my country's civil aviation, and in conjunction with the latest standard rules such as ISO 21100 and IATA ULDR, dimensional and gross operating mass requirements are proposed for palletized steel structures with base plate dimensions of A, B, G, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, and S.
(IV) Basic Requirements
To facilitate accurate understanding and use by standard users, the logic and structure of the original chapters have been adjusted. The sections on "Materials," "Structure," and "Environment" from the previous version have been integrated and changed to "Basic Requirements." Simultaneously, in accordance with my country's civil aviation regulations and technical standards, and in conjunction with the latest standards and rules such as ISO 21100, necessary technical content has been modified. This includes adding requirements that the applicability and durability of the mesh material must meet airworthiness certification requirements; the mesh should at least include a net, adjusting hooks, double-tailed locking clips, corner ropes, and other optional markings, indicators, or warnings; and the design and selection of all metal parts should eliminate the risk of finger pinching and allow for operation while wearing gloves, as well as requirements for normal service life.
(V) Technical Requirements
Following the regulations and technical standards of my country's civil aviation, and fully incorporating the core clauses of the technical specifications for containerized mesh in international standards such as ISO 21100, the technical requirements have been modified as follows:
(1) Specific requirements for flame retardancy - the average burning rate should not exceed 64 mm (2.5 inches) per minute;
(2) Added requirements that the adjusting hook should have a permanent manufacturer's mark, and the edges of the adjusting hook should be smooth and without sharp protrusions;
(3) Due to changes in the functional components of the new mesh, a double-tailed locking buckle requirement has been added, and the requirement for the double-seat tie-down connector has been deleted;
(4) Modified technical requirements have been proposed that the length of the corner rope should be greater than 1.5 times the height of the mesh, and that it should have a significant color difference from the mesh body;
(5) Requirements for the ultimate load of the mesh have been proposed according to ISO 21100 requirements, clearly stipulating that during and after the test according to the test requirements, the test simulant loaded inside the tested mesh should not slip off to the outside of the tested mesh.
(VI) Test Methods
In accordance with the technical requirements outlined in this standard, and following relevant requirements of my country's Civil Aviation Regulations and Technical Standards, combined with relevant requirements of domestic and international standards such as ISO 21100, and based on industry practice, test methods are proposed item by item:
(1) The flame retardancy test has been modified according to CCAR-25 Civil Aviation Regulations: Part 25 Airworthiness Standards for Transport Category Aircraft;
(2) Tests for nets, adjusting hooks, double-tail locks, corner ropes, and adjustment range have been added;
(3) Referring to SAE AS36102B, the load test method has been modified for the specifications of aviation container pallet nets with codes A, B, G, K, L, M, N, R, and S.
(VII) Appendices
(1) Appendix A: Pallet Net Structure Dimensions
Due to the increase in the types of container pallets applicable to this standard, and the new regulations on the marking methods of container pallets in the China Civil Aviation Technical Standards and Specifications (CTSO) and IATA ULDR, the following test methods have been proposed:
(1) Appendix A: Pallet Net Structure Dimensions
Due to the increase in the types of container pallets applicable to this standard, and the new regulations on the marking methods of container pallets in the China Civil Aviation Technical Standards and Specifications (CTSO) and IATA ULDR, the following test methods have been proposed: Accordingly, the name of the container pallet in the original Appendix A (Basic Dimensions of Pallet Mesh) has been adjusted, and the length, width, and height have been listed separately. Minimum requirements for the number of double-tail locks and adjusting hooks have also been specified.
(2) Appendix B Flame Retardancy Test
According to the relevant provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations of China: Part 25 Airworthiness Standards for Transport Category Aircraft (CCAR-25), Appendix B, Flame Retardancy Test Method, has been added.
(3) Center of Gravity Range of the Container Unit Composed of Pallets and Pallet Mesh
The original Appendix B, "Center Range of the Container Unit Composed of Pallets and Pallet Mesh," has been deleted.
Basis: The new dimensions and specifications of the pallet have changed, and the original center of gravity structure is no longer applicable. Furthermore, the new center of gravity structure is already specified in ISO 21100, etc., and does not need to be repeated. The normative reference document ISO 21100 shall be followed.
IV. Implementation Notes
The implementation of this standard should be coordinated with the latest versions of the following standards: "Technical Conditions and Test Methods for Air Cargo Pallets" (GB/T 18227), "Terminology for Air Cargo and Ground Equipment" (GB/T 23418), "Performance Requirements and Test Parameters for Air Cargo Containers" (ISO 21100), and "IATA Container Regulations" (IATA ULDR).