2023,” he declares. “That represents a compound annual growth
rate of 32.9%, which is so high that within a decade, cargo
tracking solutions will be ubiquitous.”
IoT systems rely on massive amounts of data being transferred
back to a central analytics platform. The data is collected by IoT
devices, including sensors, weather monitors, GPS and automatic
identifi cation systems (or AIS). One of the main advantages of
IoT is being able to gather the data in real time, allowing for
instant decision-making. However, the fl ood of information
arriving in the central monitoring system has to be deciphered
by knowledgeable teams of analysts. And they require advanced
predictive analytics software to perform the task, which has
initial investment costs.
IoT technology has many use cases for air cargo, which is
only just beginning to realise its potential. Monitoring valuable
cargo in fl ight is simply the most high profi le use case; other
examples include providing clear data about warehouse stock
levels, leading to better inventory management, or being able
to optimise routes by monitoring traffi c. Some airlines have
begun to use IoT to keep tabs on engines, thereby checking for
imminent breakdowns or excessive fuel consumption.
Arnaud Brolly, SITA’s Portfolio Manager for Airline Operations,
says that one of the biggest advantages is being able to keep track
of unit load devices, which are frequently lost or damaged.
“There is a stark lack of oversight of ULDs. When they get
lost, fl ights are delayed and it costs a lot of money. But we still
see a lot of antiquated, paper-based operations that make it
hard to automate actions, or extract data,” Brolly adds. “IoT
can make processes more streamlined and effi cient, which will
also cut down on the insurance costs that occur when ULDs
are mishandled.”
Manifold uses
Almost any device can be connected using an IoT system. For
example, Virgin Atlantic has used IoT to connect every part of the
Atlantic Boeing 787 cargo aircraft, from the engine right through
to the landing gear. Predictive analysis of the data is able to
estimate the likelihood of mechanical errors occurring. Elsewhere,
Emirates has embedded beacon technology in bag tags, as well as
its equipment, including life jackets and toolboxes.
SITA’s subsidiary company, SITAONAIR, is one of the biggest
drivers of the IoT revolution in air cargo. It provides connected
IT solutions for 400 airlines and 17,000 aircraft. SITAONAIR says
that it has developed a unique IoT platform for AirBridgeCargo
and CargoLogicAir that provides real-time in-fl ight monitoring
of pharmaceutical cargo. While many freight operations were
early adopters of the IoT within their ground-based logistics, the
time that the cargo spends in the aircraft has been as mysterious
as the inside of a black hole. But IoT technology can fi ll in the
information gap. SITAONAIR provides a picture of the cargo
status at the outset of the fl ight, then updates it every fi ve
minutes. Anything incongruous will soon be noticed.
“We believe it is the only
solution that offers in-fl ight
cargo sensing and freight
condition visibility. Until now,
perishable and temperaturesensitive
goods have only been
monitored on the ground,”
reveals Pierre-Stéphane
Maurice, Product Manager,
Aircraft IoT, SITAONAIR. “With
these outdated approaches, the
best you can hope for is that
data is stored during the fl ight
and can be offl oaded once
the aircraft has landed. Our
IoT solution represents a shift
in technological intelligence,
enabling actions to be taken
in fl ight to help optimise
operations.”
A partnership development
The SITAONAIR solution was
developed in partnership
with various technology
companies. It works by
collecting IoT data provided
by OnAsset Intelligence, a
cargo monitoring specialist.
The sensors are attached to
ULDs provided by Unilode, or
they can also be fi tted inside
them. They capture data
about humidity, temperature,
lights, shock and so on. The
data from each sensor is
aggregated on board and then
transmitted, either through
existing satellite connectivity,
which is relatively unusual
in the cargo world, or via the
ACARS system. AirBridge, for
example, will be using ACARS.
“From the pharmaceutical
shipper’s point of view, the
advantage is the in-fl ight
part where visibility is not
currently covered and there is
a near real-time opportunity to
improve the entire process. It
is also raising awareness of any
potential issues and ensuring
By 2021,
we’re looking at
nearly 70% of
airlines forming
partnerships in
innovation IoT
Pierre-Stéphane Maurice,
Product Manager IoT, SITAONAIR
www.airlogisticsinternational.com December 2019 9
/www.airlogisticsinternational.com