Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS)

Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirement, in 19 CFR 122.48b, for a small set of data on each shipment of commercial cargo flying into the United States. CBP runs a risk assessment on it before the aircraft is loaded, which the air manifest, due later, would be too late for.

Who files and when

• Who: the inbound air carrier, or another eligible ACAS filer such as a freight forwarder, an indirect air carrier or a foreign indirect air carrier that meets CBP's bonding and communication requirements. If no one else files, the carrier must (122.48b(c))
• When: "as early as practicable, but no later than prior to loading of the cargo onto the aircraft" bound for the US, with updates until the air manifest deadline (122.48b(b)). The air manifest itself is due at least four hours before arrival, or by wheels-up from nearby areas (19 CFR 122.48a)

The data elements

Filed at the lowest air waybill level, which is the house air waybill on a consolidation (122.48b(d)(1)):

• Shipper name and address
• Consignee name and address, email address and phone number
• Cargo description, total quantity by the smallest external packing unit and total weight
• Air waybill number
• Shipment packing location and/or scheduled pickup location, and the ship-to party, the first party scheduled to receive the goods after CBP releases them

The master air waybill number is conditional, and other elements apply depending on the shipper's status.

Referrals and do-not-load

If the data is insufficient, CBP issues a referral for information; if the shipment needs a closer look, a referral for screening. The filer or carrier must respond to and address every referral no later than before the aircraft departs. For a potential bomb threat CBP issues a do-not-load instruction, and the cargo cannot be transported until it is resolved.

What this means for importers

ACAS is not the importer's filing, and there is no Importer Security Filing for air. But the data comes from the shipper's paperwork, so a vague description ("parts", "samples", "gifts") or a missing consignee phone number is the usual reason for a referral that holds the cargo at origin. Give the forwarder a plain-language description and complete consignee details at booking. See air freight.