SPEC 300 Specification for Packaging of Airline Materials

The standard “SPEC 300 Specification for Packaging Airline Supplies” developed by the Air Transport Association (ATA) establishes guidelines for packaging aircraft parts and consumables shipped to an airline and includes minimum recommendations for the airline industry to use in the design, development and supply of effective packaging. Sufficient flexibility is included in these guidelines to allow for desired technological advances in packaging.

SPEC 300 is divided into the following sections, each of which provides packaging instructions for repairable parts and consumables:

• Part 1 covers applicable standards for packaging of all parts and consumables.
• Chapters 2 and 3 outline additional requirements for repairable and usable consumables.
• Section 4 contains packaging standards for kits.
• Chapter 5 provides regulatory references and guidance for the transportation of hazardous materials.
• Part 6 contains standards for the packaging and processing of devices sensitive to electrostatic discharge.
• Chapters 7 and 8 outline the requirements for Category I, II and III containers.

The packaging requirements for repairable parts (Part 1) are intended to meet the packaging needs for packing spare parts that require individual packaging in special shipping containers. These requirements are described as follows:

• Shelf life and storage instructions: The unit or component manufacturer shall determine the shelf life and storage instructions for their products and shall communicate these to the customer. In the event of abnormal deterioration, corrosion or chemical reaction during storage due to exposure to liquids, vapors, gases or dust, they shall be packaged in airtight containers or in packaging constructed of inert materials treated to neutralize any entrained air with non-toxic results. Marking of each unit packaging shall be in accordance with the annex to this standard (Annex A).
• Magnetic fields: Assemblies or components that generate magnetic fields should be packaged and properly located in shielding materials that will prevent the magnetic field from directly affecting adjacent items and instrumentation.
• Devices sensitive to electrostatic discharge: Those subject to electrostatic damage must be packaged, marked or stored and used in the laboratory in accordance with this standard.
• Hazardous materials: Substances, materials and articles that are identified by the applicable dangerous goods regulatory document as having the capacity to present an unreasonable risk to health, safety or property must be packaged in accordance with this standard.
• Fragile materials: Items that are easily damaged when subjected to shock or vibration during normal handling must have these fragility characteristics documented by the manufacturer. This includes damage limit curves or a G-level for a specific drop height and acceleration.
• Parts containing liquids: Any aircraft part, enclosure or packaging material containing liquids such as jet fuel or hydraulic fluid shall be capable of containing the liquid in the event of separation from the part. Liquids considered hazardous materials under the applicable dangerous goods regulatory document shall be packaged in accordance with this standard. Cushioning material manually attached to the enclosure or intended to be returned shall not be capable of absorbing the liquid.

The packaging requirements for repairable parts (Part 2) are intended to provide packaging purchases for repairable parts purchased in individually packable shipping containers in accordance with this standard.

The packaging requirements for consumable and minor repairable parts (Section 3) are intended to meet the packaging requirements for consumable and minor repairable parts that are not packed in secure shipping containers.

Kit packaging requirements (Section 4) address the packaging, marking, and kit content list requirements when preparing kits for shipment.

Hazardous materials packaging requirements (Part 5) are intended to identify applicable regulatory documents governing the commercial transportation of hazardous materials and dangerous goods, and the materials subject to those regulatory documents. The terms hazardous materials, dangerous goods, and restricted substances are used interchangeably throughout this standard and include the terms hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, and high temperature materials.

Requirements for packaging of electrostatic discharge sensitive devices (Part 6) address packaging for electrostatic discharge sensitive devices. It also provides instructions for labeling and handling such discharge sensitive devices.

General requirements for Category I and II reusable containers (Section 7) are intended to provide general requirements for the design of, and minimum material and design performance levels for, Category I and II reusable shipping containers. These requirements are intended to produce a specified container capable of containing an item and protecting it from damage for the number of round trips specified by category classification.

General requirements for Category III containers (Section 8) are intended to provide general considerations for the design of Category III shipping containers and to specify minimum material and design performance levels required for a given package to contain and protect an item from damage. Additionally, the specifications for Category III packages are intended to allow airline parts to be boxed, loaded, and transported in a manner that facilitates storage and distribution of the item at airline transportation facilities.

Our organization has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies provided for businesses in various sectors, there are also test services in accordance with the "SPEC 300 Specifications for packaging of airline materials" standard.