Which document must be in the flight deck and in the possession of the pilot for air shipments?

• A. Air Bill
• B. Bill of Lading
• C. SDS
• D. White Pages

Answer: (A)

The key document in air shipments is the Air Waybill (Air Bill). This serves as the contract of carriage and the receipt for the goods, and it must be kept in the flight deck so the captain can verify who shipped the cargo, where it’s headed, and the details of the shipment, including weight and any special handling. Keeping it onboard ensures immediate access for regulatory checks and for coordinating with ground staff and authorities during flight operations, especially when hazardous materials are involved.

The other documents don’t fill this cockpit-necessary role: a Bill of Lading is used for ocean shipments, not air; a Safety Data Sheet explains hazards and safe handling but isn’t the transportation contract carried on the aircraft; White Pages have no bearing on air cargo documentation.