AirBridgeCargo Airlines, a leading international all cargo airlines, and Unilode Aviation Solutions have deepened their long-standing unit load device (ULD) management partnership with the rollout of the world's first digitised main deck containers.

The deck containers are co-branded dedicated AMA/AMD fire-resistant containers (FRC) equipped with a transmitting portable electronic device (TPED), said a statement.

The containers, which are manufactured by Nordisk Aviation Products, have been designed with the usage of the latest technology in fire barriers for aviation and are equipped with TPEDs based on Unilode's award-winning Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE 5.0) technology.

The containers enable to track the location of the ULD and the cargo being carried in the container, and transmit status updates on various parameters such as temperature, humidity, shock and light.

The first half of the new digitised AMA/AMD fire-resistant container fleet will be delivered by Unilode by the end of June and the rest in September to give AirBridgeCargo Airlines time to test and introduce them gradually into its operations.

Sergey Lazarev, general director of AirBridgeCargo Airlines, said: “The deployment of co-branded digitised containers not only broadens our cooperation with Unilode Aviation Solutions but also introduces one of the most revolutionary phases of cargo digitalisation.”

“We are delighted to be on this path with our valued and trusted partner which is the expert in ULD management and has adopted a forward-thinking approach towards the introduction of IoT into the air cargo industry,” Lazarev said.

“TPED is the kind of technology that tightly aligns with our customers' expectations, especially when it comes to transportation of special cargoes - pharmaceutical products, perishable goods, valuables, and others,” Lazarev added.

Benoît Dumont, chief executive officer of Unilode Aviation Solutions, said: “At the end of 2018 AirBridgeCargo Airlines and our company announced a collaboration for the extensive usage of TPEDs for pallets and containers.”

“The introduction of the digitised AMA/AMD fire-resistant main deck containers is another stage of both companies' joint efforts to bring enhanced IoT solutions into the air cargo industry with the purpose to simplify the data-sharing process and make it more transparent and reliable for all stakeholders in the aviation value chain,” Dumont said.

“The rollout of our reader infrastructure in our repair network and our customers’ key hubs is progressing according to our plans and all the benefits of Unilode's digital transformation project will soon be enjoyed by both Unilode and its customers,” Dumont added. – TradeArabia News Service