Right now amidst all the gloom and doom of things to come in 2012 and ample amounts of soul searching about 2011, a major driver of the air cargo business, Information Technology (IT) is at an absolute water shed moment in time, as a novel device (with others to follow) could render the extensive and high cost air cargo tracking IT infrastructure in place irrelevant and messaging sytem irrelevant and bypassed at the speed of an express shipment. The only thing Sentry 400 doesn't handle is making a booking and at this point it doesn't care about airline-specific air waybill information whatsoever, yet there is potential to cross reference it and include flight number information.
SENTRY 400 has the potential to dramatically change the industry, subject to the cost of this technology to shippers. It could be used for all air cargo in the foreseeable future. The shippers can have what they want without depending on the airlines and forwarders.
American Airlines Cargo, United, Delta and Southwest Cargo are talking about the virtual monitoring system dreamed up by a company in Texas called OnAsset Intelligence, Inc.
Branded the SENTRY 400 FlightSafe™ the payoff is a compact device that right now can report location, environmental sensing while also providing virtual security-fencing and temperature monitoring for air cargo shipments.
The system, reportedly leased a minimum of 12 months from OnAsset is about as big as an iPad and actually smaller than an 8 1/2 by 11 piece of paper. SENTRY 400 rides inside the shipment.
The device pioneers utilization of proprietary technology that turns itself off while in flight to meet FAA requirements.
So in one sense shippers can assume that if they are not getting any messages from the doohickey, their air cargo is in the air. It is a stand-alone system that allows a shipper to go to the web-based VisionPlatform for status information.
At American Airlines Cargo, Roger Samways, Managing Director Global Accounts and Sales Strategy notes that the Texas-based carrier is no new kid on the block as AA begins it's fourth year of involvement with OnAsset. “We were actually the first carrier to get involved with OnAsset in 2008 working with their R&D division “OnAsset was good enough to give us visibility of the devices as they evolved.
“The big challenge and reason it has taken so long to get the device to market is because it carries a radio transmitter and the collateral FAA concern with having a device such as this in operation whilst an aircraft is in transit.
“The other factor was our practice of testing and monitoring customer usage and reaction.
“OnAsset developed a sophisticated set of triggers that tell the device when it has been loaded on an aircraft, at which point the device shuts itself off, not transmitting but continually collecting information.
“When the aircraft arrives at destination the same set of triggers turn the device back to broadcast again sending an all activity record to the shipper. "The device continues to report monitoring the package until the shipment is delivered.
“We think that there are plenty of applications for this new technology—in fact, we are pretty excited about it. "Last year we ran a pilot program with SENTRY 400 FlightSafe™ that was quite successful and since that time we have expanded utilization of the system across our global network.
Today a forwarder can use SENTRY on any shipment flown on American Airlines main line fleet anywhere in the world. So far we have seen the system typically in use on pharmaceutical and very valuable shipments.A number of our accounts are utilizing the system on a regular or pilot basis,” Roger Samways said. But we think that there is plenty more we will do with SENTRY 400 FlightSafe™, so stay tuned.”
“It’s a potent combination for our customers” said Robbie Anderson, President United Cargo, “delivering peace of mind, and enhanced visibility over several of our key products: UASecure high value, QuickPak and EXP express offerings as well as TempControl,” he added.
Neel Shah, Senior Vice President and Chief Cargo Officer at Delta Airlines said:“We accept the OnAsset device on all Delta and Delta Connection flights worldwide. “There are no restrictions placed on the product with the exception that it can only be used with our express products and must be declared at the time of acceptance.” “It’s a neat device,” Mr. Shah added.
“We have worked with OnAsset for more than a year to evaluate their technology and are happy to accept the GPS device within our customer’s shipments,” says Wally Devereaux, Director of Cargo Sales & Marketing for Southwest Airlines.
Source: Geoffrey/Ted, Flying Typers
Gravity always wins!