THE INTERNATIONAL Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the Air Cargo Device Assessment (ACDA) program in order to validate air cargo tracking devices, data loggers, and sensor-equipped devices for compliance with industry safety standards.
ACDA validates compliance with IATA’s Recommended Practice 1693, which provides important safety guidance for electromagnetic compatibility and battery safety.
IATA says validation data will be accessible via the online ONE Source platform which provides a single access point to stakeholders searching for approved tracking devices.
“The fastest-growing segments of air cargo are pharmaceuticals, perishables, electronics, and high-value goods,” said Brendan Sullivan, global head of cargo at IATA.
“Shippers rely on various battery-powered electronic devices to monitor these sensitive shipments to ensure their integrity. The IATA Air Cargo Device Assessment will confirm that these devices comply with strict industry safety standards.”
IATA believes ACDA offers significant benefits across the air cargo industry. For device manufacturers, the association said it streamlines the validation process by eliminating repetitive documentation requirements, facilitates easier access to airline contacts for device authorisation, and enhances visibility in the global market.
Airlines benefit from safer operations with fewer undeclared devices, simplified internal approval processes, and a consolidated repository of approved devices, it said.
Shippers and forwarders also gain centralised access to approved device information with ACDA, the association said, which enables better planning for routing and carrier selection.
According to IATA, the overall success of the program will allow for more effective delivery of time and temperature sensitive shipments, thus reducing waste and preserving the integrity of shipments.
The association confirmed the first product to be validated by ACDA is “THE BOX”, a reusable packing solution from LivingPackets, a company focused on green packaging solutions.
“Having IATA validate compliance with its strict safety standards makes our product universally acceptable for use across the air cargo industry,” said Denis Mourrain, LivingPackets chief operating officer.
“That is particularly important for an innovation like THE BOX as it is the first Smart, Secure & Sustainable [shipping] packing for use in air cargo. The Air Cargo Device Assessment gives it instant global recognition.”
In other movements, IATA recently revealed it is looking cautiously to next year as US president-elect Donald Trump threatens America’s largest trading partners with new tariffs.
