AI-Powered Air Cargo Security Risk Assessment

The Pre-load Air Cargo Targeting (PACT) Program is an automated risk assessment system operated by Transport Canada that screens all inbound air cargo shipments destined for Canada before they are loaded onto aircraft. The system analyzes information submitted by air carriers — including shipper and consignee names and addresses, commodity descriptions, cargo weight, piece count, and air waybill numbers — and uses artificial intelligence to calculate a risk score for each shipment. Shipments assessed as low-risk are automatically cleared, while those that fall outside low-risk parameters are flagged for review by a human PACT analyst who decides whether to issue a Request for Information, Request for Screening, or a Do Not Load notice.

The PACT system was created because the volume of inbound air cargo shipments to Canada is too large to assess manually. Prior to automation, only about 6% of shipments could be reviewed using tools like Microsoft Excel and a limited number of staff volunteers. The automated system is designed to assess 100% of submitted cargo data, improving aviation security for both passenger and all-cargo flights without creating undue delays in the supply chain.

If your shipment is flagged by the PACT system and a risk mitigation measure is applied, you will receive a notification through the air carrier. You have the right to seek an explanation for any decision that prevents your cargo from being loaded by contacting Transport Canada's PACT Program directly. A Privacy Impact Assessment is in place to ensure that any personal information collected — limited to shipper or consignee name, address, and commodity description — is handled in accordance with Canadian law.