ISO 10254-2016 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 10254:2016 — Air cargo and ground equipment — Vocabulary. A vocabulary standard that defines terms used for air cargo and aircraft ground equipment to ensure consistent terminology across related international standards, documents and manuals.

Abstract

ISO 10254:2016 provides a standardized set of terms and abridged definitions for air cargo and airport ground equipment. The terms are listed alphabetically in the English-language version, with an index allowing identification from French or German expressions. The publication notes that the term "weight" is used throughout the 2016 edition in place of the strictly technical term "mass" to reflect common commercial usage. The 2016 edition has since been withdrawn and revised by a later edition.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (revised).
• Publication date: July 2016.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 49.100; 49.120; 01.040.49.
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2016).
• Number of pages: 49 pages (English edition).

Scope

This standard defines terms related to air cargo and aircraft ground equipment as used in other international standards developed by ISO/TC 20/SC 9. Its primary purpose is to provide a uniform understanding of terminology across standards, technical documents and operational manuals in the domains of air cargo handling and airport ground equipment. More detailed definitions where required are supplied in the terms-and-definitions clauses of the specific standards that use these terms.

Key topics and requirements

• Authoritative glossary of terms for air cargo operations and airport ground equipment.
• Abridged definitions intended for cross-standard consistency and interoperability.
• Use of English alphabetical ordering with indexes for French and German equivalents.
• Guidance on conventional commercial wording (e.g., use of "weight" rather than "mass" in this edition).
• Intended for use as a reference by standards writers, manufacturers and operational stakeholders to avoid ambiguity in terminology.

Typical use and users

Used by standards committees, aviation and airport authorities, ground-handling companies, aircraft and ground-equipment manufacturers, airlines, technical writers, trainers and consultants who need a consistent, internationally recognized vocabulary for air cargo and ground support equipment. It is referenced when drafting technical specifications, manuals, procurement documents and regulatory guidance.

Related standards

ISO 10254:2016 revises ISO 10254:1995 and has itself been revised and replaced by a later edition (ISO 10254:2025). It is part of the body of standards prepared by ISO/TC 20/SC 9 addressing air cargo and ground equipment terminology and interfaces with other technical and operational standards for airport ground-support systems and cargo handling.

Keywords

air cargo, ground equipment, vocabulary, glossary, terminology, airport equipment, ground support, ISO/TC 20/SC 9, definitions, weight vs mass

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 10254:2016 is an international vocabulary standard titled "Air cargo and ground equipment — Vocabulary" that defines terms and abridged definitions used in the air cargo and ground-equipment domain.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers standardized terms and short definitions for air cargo handling and aircraft ground equipment, facilitating uniform interpretation across standards, manuals and operational documentation.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Standards developers, airport authorities, airlines, ground-handling providers, equipment manufacturers, procurement teams, technical authors and trainers who require a consistent set of terms for specification, operation and documentation.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 10254:2016 has been withdrawn and subsequently revised; a later edition (published in 2025) replaces the 2016 edition. For current normative references and the latest vocabulary entries, consult the most recent edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is the vocabulary document maintained by ISO/TC 20/SC 9 and relates to earlier and later editions of ISO 10254 (1995, 2016, 2025). It sits alongside other standards covering air cargo equipment and procedures developed by the same technical committee.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: air cargo; ground equipment; vocabulary; glossary; terminology; ground support equipment; airport; definitions; ISO 10254.