AirBridgeCargo, CargoLogicAir sign on with IoT firm for pharma tracking

At the Farnborough Air Show today, two cargo carriers – Russia’s AirBridgeCargo (ABC) and London-based CargoLogicAir (CLA) – said they have signed on with “internet of things” (IoT) digital avionics firm, SITAONAIR, to provide real-time monitoring of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical cargo.

Through the use of connected electronic sensors, SITAONAIR collects air cargo data provided by its partner in the project, OnAsset Intelligence, during the course of a typical flight and displays the data securely to its ground data management platform, so shippers can monitor its progress.

According to SITAONAIR, its IoT platform is the only monitoring system currently on the market to provide inflight cargo sensing and freight condition visibility for perishable and temperature-sensitive goods.

“Digital pharma is a priority innovation focus for us,” said Sergey Lazarev, general director of ABC. “With genuine internet of things capabilities… our digital pharma service is born, ensuring we can provide the best transportation conditions inflight for customers’ invaluable cargo.”

David Kerr, CEO of CLA, concurred, adding that the IoT system will enable the carrier “to move towards the establishment of a holistic digital environment for our customers”.

Dominique El Bez, SITAONAIR’s vice president of product and strategy, cited a study by the SITA Group, which found that two-thirds of commercial airlines surveyed said that they plan to invest in IoT technology in the next few years. The company’s open IoT platform, he said, was “developed in collaboration with the wider aviation industry,” and will bring “a sweep of aircraft IoT portfolio products to market” sometime in 2019.