INTERNET OF
THINGS
compliance with regulations,” says Maurice. Meanwhile, for the
airlines, it’s hugely beneficial as they can analyse the data to
improve their future performance.
The SITAONAIR pilot programme, which was showcased at the
Farnborough Air Show in the UK last year, was initially restricted
to tracking pharmaceuticals. The technology allows adjustments
to be made in-flight if shipments exceed permitted temperatures,
or ranges of humidity. If it’s too late to save the shipment, the
shipper or customer could immediately order a second batch
of the product. This type of information is not available at the
moment until shipments land on the ground. Maurice believes
that as the technology develops, other benefits might include
on-aircraft monitoring, resetting container temperatures and the
adjustment of environmental conditions.
In theory, despite the initial focus on pharmaceuticals, there
is no limit to the type of cargo that could be tracked using
SITAONAIR’s IoT system.
“We’ve already had a lot
of interest for live animals,
including pets, as well as more
specific niche requests, such
as for racing horses, one-day
old chickens or livestock,” he
says. “This type of solution is
part of the digital shift that
will reinvent the operation of
aircraft, making them safer,
more efficient and more
enjoyable.”
Eyes right
Of the IoT solutions already
in operation in air cargo,
one of the most innovative
is Finnair’s Cargo Eye
monitoring tool, which
collects live data from all of
the cargo airline’s information
and tracking systems.
This includes the global
position of the aircraft,
flight information and the
geographic location of all
cargo ground traffic. The
system can also display data
from partner companies’
devices and systems, for
example the small transmitter
devices in vehicles. For ground
operations, Cargo Eye can pull
up an airport map that shows
the precise location of every
cargo vehicle, thanks to the
GPS-based devices that feed
into the network.
The information is
monitored from the high-tech
Cool Cargo Hub, at Helsinki
airport, where operators view
the live data across multiple
screens in a Google Maps
format and can make swift
interventions.
Kari Saarikoski, Digital
Transformation Lead for
Finnair Cargo, says: “It’s an
indispensable management
tool. The operatives in the
Cargo Control Centre in the
Cool Hub can look at one
screen and see where every
truck and plane is carrying
seafood or pharmaceuticals,
get updated on its arrival
and connecting transport,
monitor its contents and
temperature, and be prepared
to shift ground resources to
where they are needed most in
anticipation of delivery.”
New IoT products continue
to proliferate on the market.
A few weeks ago, in October,
IAG Cargo announced a
partnership with Cargo
Signal to offer a new tracking
service. The service provides
customers with end-to-end
monitoring and notification
features, using cellular
networks to communicate
with tracking devices on
cargo. The devices transmit
real-time data when in cellular
range, on everything from
location and light through
to precise temperature and
humidity readings.
Maurice agrees with Berg
Insight’s Bäckman that IoT
will transform the oversight
of air cargo operations within
a decade. The amount of
aircraft-generated data and
next generation connectivity
and communications
innovations are increasing
faster than ever, he declares.
Operators are keen to
digitise in order to use this
information.
“By 2021 we’re looking at
nearly 70% of airlines forming
partnerships in innovation
IoT, according to an IATA
survey,” he says. “In air cargo,
especially, the interest is
growing fast.”
The sector has been
warned…
10 December 2019 www.airlogisticsinternational.com
/www.airlogisticsinternational.com