Cabin baggage

Baggage in the custody of a passenger or crew member that is intended for carriage in the cabin of an aircraft; equivalent terms are ‘carry-on baggage’, ‘hand baggage’ and ‘unchecked baggage’.

Checked baggage

Passenger baggage that has been taken into custody by the aircraft operator, intended for carriage in the cargo compartment(s) of an aircraft, for which a baggage claim check has been issued to the passenger; this includes cabin baggage that has been taken from a passenger and loaded into the cargo compartment (e.g. due to physical size/weight restrictions or lack of cabin stowage space); equivalent terms are ‘hold baggage’, ‘hold luggage’ and ‘registered baggage’.

Company material

Aircraft operator material carried on an operator’s aircraft for the operator’s own purposes.

Correction

The action of eliminating a non-compliance.

Corrective action

The action of eliminating or mitigating the root cause(s) and preventing the recurrence of existing detected non‑compliance or of any other undesirable condition or situation. Proper determination of the root cause(s) is crucial for defining effective corrective action to prevent recurrence.

Ground handling service provider (GHSP)

Synonym for ‘ground handling (GH) organisation’. The two terms are interchangeable.

Holdover time

The period of time during which an anti‑icing fluid provides protection against frozen contamination to the treated aircraft surfaces. It depends, among other variables, on the type and intensity of precipitation, OAT, wind, the particular fluid (or fluid type) and aircraft design and aircraft configuration during the treatment.

Mass and balance documentation

In addition to the definition in Article 3 (definition (31):

Since aircraft operators may use different names for the various documents containing mass and balance calculations and data, the more generic term ‘mass and balance documentation’ is used throughout Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/20. This ensures alignment with Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 regarding mass and balance calculations and related documentation.

Mishandled baggage

Baggage involuntarily, or inadvertently, separated from passengers or crew.

Near miss

An event in which an occurrence to be mandatorily reported in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 was narrowly averted or avoided.

Overpack

An enclosure used by a single shipper to contain one or more packages and to form one handling unit for convenience of handling and stowage.

Oversight planning cycle

The time frame within which the content of the declaration of a GH organisation and the processes that are identified through a safety risk assessment should be reviewed by the competent authority by means of audits and inspections.

Oversight programme

The detailed oversight schedule that sets out the number of audits and other activities — including the scope and duration of each activity and the details of product audits and locations, as appropriate — to be performed by the competent authority, with a tentative time frame for performing each activity.

Package

The complete product of a packing operation, consisting of the packaging and its contents prepared for transport.

Packaging

Receptacles and any other components or materials necessary for the receptacles to perform their containment function.

Preventive action

The action taken to eliminate the cause of potential non-compliance or of any other undesirable potential situation.

Station

An aerodrome where a GH organisation provides services.

Unaccompanied baggage

Baggage that is transported as cargo and that may or may not be carried on the same aircraft as the person to whom it belongs.