Air Freight Packing Instruction 965 State of Charge Compliance Verification
Verify air cargo cell charge limits below 30 percent using rested open-circuit voltage lookups or bench discharges backed by signed UN 38.3 test records.
Special Provision A331
Meaning
An international aviation transport regulation issued by the International Air Transport Association governs the shipment of lithium batteries on cargo aircraft by restricting their allowable state of charge. Logistics managers must comply with Special Provision A331 to ensure that standalone lithium ion batteries are shipped at a state of charge not exceeding thirty percent of their rated capacity. This safety measure reduces the likelihood and severity of thermal runaway during air transit.
Technical Compliance
Airlines reject shipments that lack certified documentation confirming the proper discharge state. Compliance with Special Provision A331 requires cells to be pre-discharged to the required energy limit at the factory before being loaded into specialized transport containers.
Operational Impact
Sourcing chains face additional processing steps and delays when preparing cells for global distribution. Adapting to Special Provision A331 forces manufacturers to integrate discharge stations at the end of the production line, which increases processing time but avoids the risk of transport penalties.
Legal Exception
Specific approval from the country of origin and destination can occasionally bypass this rule under strict safety conditions. However, the standard application of Special Provision A331 is absolute for all commercial cargo flights, meaning that non-compliant shipments are turned away at the airport terminal.