AIR CARG O WEEK


CARGO TECHNOLOGY


SUPPLEMENT


CARGO TECHNOLOGY IN THE DIGITAL AGE


A


ir cargo technology encompasses a wide range of advanced systems and solutions designed to optimise the transportation, handling and management of goods transported by air. These technologies aim to improve efficiency, security and sustainability in the wider air cargo industry.


To judge how far air cargo technology has come and will yet develop, it


is informative to consider what the technology was like when scheduled air cargo flights began, back in 1944 wartime USA. Scheduled air cargo flights officially started with a 19-hour flight


from New York City to Southern California in October 1944. American Airlines loaded up a DC-3 with more than 6,000 pounds (2.7 tonnes) of cargo and flew the first scheduled air cargo flight, from LaGuardia Field to Burbank, California. Black & white photographs of the loading would show plenty of labour


and little handling technology as men physically loaded wooden boxes of merchandise, stacking them in the aircraft like they were stacking at the time into railway cars and ship cargo holds. Records were kept on paper and there was no ability to track and trace any consignment in real-time. Eighty years later it is clear there is a very different picture when one


stands in a cargo terminal or on the cargo apron. Millions of tonnes of cargo are handled at the world’s airports by fewer people than loaded that DC-3 eighty years ago. The relatively low number of people presently working in air cargo


loading and handling can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the air cargo industry has increasingly adopted automation and advanced technology to improve efficiency and reduce the need for manual labour. Automated systems for sorting,


loading and unloading cargo have


significantly decreased the number of workers required. Air cargo loading requires specialised skills and training. Workers need


to understand weight distribution, safety protocols and the handling of various types of cargo. The need for specific training can limit the number of qualified personnel. The nature of the job often involves working in harsh conditions,


such as extreme temperatures, noisy environments and irregular hours, including nights, weekends and holidays. These conditions can make the job less attractive to potential workers. The industry is heavily regulated, and workers must comply with


stringent security and safety standards. This includes background checks, security clearances and adherence to safety protocols, which can be barriers to entry. Now, if time travel permitted those 1940s aircraft loaders to arrive


eight decades into the future, they would be astounded by the modern air cargo handling eco-system. They would see vast warehousing storing hundreds of empty and filled ULDs in stacks that tower over mere people, automated systems that can locate an ULD anywhere in the world in real-time and technology that can protect the most perishable and vital of cargoes. However, one thing that still connects the men in wartime New York


and the men and women working in the most modern digital warehouse is straightforward and has not changed: air cargo handling allows for the rapid and efficient transport of goods over long distances and plays a critical role in supply chain management by ensuring that goods move swiftly from manufacturers to consumers or businesses as it supports international trade by facilitating the movement of goods across borders. That at least, has not changed.


Editor: Associate Editor: Director of Operations:


International Sales Director: International Sales Executive: Finance Manager:


James Graham Chris Lewis Kim Smith


Rosa Bellanca Zainab Khalid Rachel Burns


Design & Production Manager: Alex Brown Production Supervisor Website Consultant:


Managing Director: Kevin Dennis Tim Brocklehurst Steven Polmans


The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Whilst every care is taken, the publishers cannot be held legally responsible for any errors in articles or advertisements. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by electronic, mechanical, photographic or other means without the prior consent of the publishers. USA: The publishers shall not be liable for losses, claims, damages or expenses arising out of or attributed to the contents of Air Cargo Week, insofar as they are based on information, presentations, reports or data that have been publicly disseminated, furnished or otherwise communicated to Air Cargo Week.


AZURA INTERNATIONAL


3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14