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ABSTRACT
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a technology which could prevail in aerial transportation as an improvement of the luggage performance against more traditional technologies such as barcodes. The International Association of air transport (IAAT) forecasts an increase in its usage in the years to come. This article assesses the current context of luggage traceability. Before detailing the applications, advantages and various cases of usage of the RFID in the aerial sector, it provides an exhaustive presentation of this technology and its standards. It concludes with the main elements of costs and profits in order to highlight the improvements brought about by this approach.
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Jean-Noël Lefebvre: Associate Director, AERA.aero Consultants
INTRODUCTION
Like other industries, the air transport sector is seeing RFID take hold as a means of improving traceability, in addition to more traditional technologies such as barcodes. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is playing a major role in this growing awareness.
This article looks at how RFID can be used in air transport. It develops several key points:
As RFID is a means of collecting data on baggage flows and their containers, deployments must be driven by improved traceability and process performance.
RFID is by no means a universal solution. This technology is a tool that can be applied to certain types of operational problems. Analysis of processes and flows is necessary to determine potential benefits.
In technical terms, RFID is widely standardized in the air transport industry, and has proved its effectiveness in numerous applications at major airports such as Amsterdam, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Hong Kong, Las Vegas and Tokyo Narita. Technical issues mainly concern the fine-tuning during installation. Most feasibility tests have already been carried out.
RFID complements other tracking technologies such as barcodes, or EDI messages defined by IATA.
Implementing RFID requires a rigorous methodology right from the economic feasibility study, good coordination between IT and project engineering, and experienced teams.
Validating the value of RFID at an airport requires careful consideration of the roles and contractual relationships between the various players.
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Baggage traceability in air transport
Background to RFID in the airline industry
Bibliography
Standards and norms
- 950MHz-band RFID equipment for premises radio station (1 W) - ARIB STD-T89 - 26/05/2005 puis 25/09/2008
- 950MHz-band RFID equipment for specified low power radio station (10 mW) - ARIB STD-T90 - 14/03/2006 puis 06/06/2008
- Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM) ; Radio Frequency Identification Equipment operating in the band 865 MHz to 868 MHz with power levels up to 2 W ; Part 1 :...
Regulations
Warsaw Convention (downloadable from the DGAC website) : http://www.dgac.fr/html/oservice/droits.htm , 1929
Organizations
ACI (Airports Council International): international association of airport operators
ARCEP : Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (French regulatory authority for electronic communications and postal services), responsible for the use of radio frequencies in France.
ARIB (Association of Radio Industries and Businesses): Japanese industry association...
Manufacturers – Suppliers – Distributors
RFID chips: EM Microelectronic Marin, Impinj, NXP, ST Microelectronics, Texas Instruments
Tags: Avery Denison, Bartsch International GmbH, Checkpoint Meto, Dai Nippon Printing, George Schmitt & Co., Hummel, IER, Hitachi, Oji Paper, Printotape, Security Label, Sontag, Toppan Forms, UPM Raflatac
Luggage label printers: IER, Intermec
...Websites
IATA RFID Support Portal ( http://www.iata.org/stbsupportportal/rfid.htm ): business case for RFID baggage, marking of catering trolleys (RFID inflight), spare parts, "Baggage Improvement Programme".
Bouygues Telecoms: health effects of electromagnetic radiation (
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