Air Mode

The Advance Commercial Information (ACI) Program requires all air carriers and freight forwarders, where applicable, to electronically transmit conveyance, cargo and supplementary cargo data to the CBSA four hours prior to arrival in Canada. If the flight is less than four hours in duration, conveyance, cargo and supplementary cargo data must be reported at the time of departure from the foreign airport. This requirement allows the CBSA to effectively identify threats to Canada's health, safety and security before
the arrival of cargo and conveyances in Canada.

Data Transmission

• Who is Responsible for Data Transmission?
• Transmission Methods
  • Additional Support
• Changes to Data Elements
• Advance Timeframes for Reporting
• ACI Client Document (formerly Participants' Requirements Document)
  Outlines the electronic transmission requirements

Reporting Data

Air Cargo and Conveyance reporting uses EDIFACT format only. Air Supplementary Cargo reporting is available in both ANSI and EDIFACT formats.

• Conveyance Reporting
• Cargo Reporting
• Supplementary Report
• Risk Assessment Notices

Advance Time Frames for Reporting

The following chart summarizes the advance time frames for providing air conveyance reports, cargo reports and supplementary cargo reports.

Conveyances with commercial cargo and a flight in excess of four hours	Four hours prior to arrival
Conveyances with commercial cargo and a flight less than four hours	Time of departure
Commercial cargo on a flight in excess of four hours	Four hours prior to arrival
Commercial cargo on a flight less than four hours	Time of departure
Supplementary cargo reports for commercial cargo on a flight in excess of four hours	Four hours prior to arrival
Supplementary cargo reports for commercial cargo on a flight less than four hours	Time of departure