Air cargo

All cargo leaving New Zealand must be made safe for flight and kept secure. This is done by a regulated air cargo agent (RACA) applying security controls. If a RACA doesn’t do this, the airline must apply those security controls to the cargo it’s transporting.

Air cargo security controls are necessary to:

• protect passengers and crew
• preserve New Zealand’s reputation with our international aviation partners as a safe point of origin for cargo
• meet our international treaty obligations to civil aviation security.

In this section:

How to become a certificated regulated air cargo agent

If your organisation moves cargo (including mail) on international passenger flights, you can apply to us for a regulated cargo agent (RACA) certificate to do so.

RACA security check application

Each employee of a regulated air cargo agent (RACA) who ‘applies security controls’ has to be authorised. This also applies to each employee who needs to enter access-controlled areas. To become authorised, each employee must hold a favourable security check determination.

List of RACA agents

Browse our list of Part 109 regulated air cargo agents.

Acceptable compliance with Civil Aviation Rule 109 [PDF 164 KB]

Letter sent to RACA agents about Air Certify and compliance with Rule Part 109.

Related information about RACA and Part 109