RFID in Aviation - the Next Boom Sector?

RFID had a varied year in 2006 with some sectors booming and others not gaining the expected momentum. One fast growing area is the aviation industry, which will use around 60 million tags in 2007. Lost baggage costs $2.5 billion per annum and increasingly airlines and airports need to show and be able to prove that baggage has been properly screened.

RFID is an extremely powerful enabling technology serving to improve security against terrorist attack, safety against general hazards, efficiency, error prevention, and data capture and to remove tedious tasks. It can even create new earning streams where it makes tolling feasible without causing congestion and where airport "touch and go" cards offer new paid services without delays. RFID creates competitive advantages in many ways and in many locations that extend far beyond the tagging of baggage.

Andrew Price, RFID Manager at IATA, the airline trade association, supports this notion: "In the next few years, the air industry will be tagging an ever higher proportion of its two billion bags yearly and it will use RFID in other new applications as well." Having developed business cases for several airports IATA has acquired unique knowledge of best-practice in implementing RFID tagging systems and the barriers to such implementation.

Hear IATA, McCarran Airport, and Shipcom Wireless present in the Aviation Track at the RFID Smart Labels USA 2007. McCarran Airport in Las Vegas has the largest RFID project in the industry where all baggage is tagged through the screening process. David Bourgon of McCarran Airport explains why RFID was the only viable solution to McCarran's lost baggage problem and how the use of RFID has also enhanced customer services within the airport. Shipcom Wireless, headed by John Shoemaker of Symbol and Matrix, explores the critical components of a successful RFID implementation in the aviation industry and explains how to achieve success in leveraging new RFID technology. To find out more about RFID in Aviation attend RFID Smart Labels USA 2007 or see the "RFID in Airports and Airlines" report at www.idtechex.com.

---

Department of Defense Extends RFID Contract With ODIN technologies

ODIN technologies (www.odintechnologies.com) announces that the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has exercised the first option year of the current contract for passive RFID implementation at DLA's distribution centers (DCs) worldwide. The Option Year 1 project is worth up to $3.8 million in the continued roll-out of RFID capabilities at the DCs.

A key objective of this contract is to enable all DCs outside the continental United States (OCONUS) to receive incoming shipments with passive RFID tags. The contract will enable the use of passive RFID tags broadly within the military supply chain overseas. The OCONUS sites include Korea, Japan, Guam, Hawaii, Germany, and Italy. This initiative follows the successful implementation of RFID in 71 DC buildings within the continental United States in under 130 days during the summer of 2006.

"This contract extension reinforces ODIN's leadership in large scale global deployments and reinforces the need for a specialized partner to drive value," says Patrick J. Sweeney II, President and CEO of ODIN technologies. "ODIN has demonstrated an ability to meet Department of Defense RFID requirements with the rapid RFID hardware and software design and installation into 71 DC buildings in under 130 days in 2006. We are proud that ODIN accomplished this and look forward to even more successful deployments in the Pacific and Europe in the coming year."

---

Livestock Identification System Push in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is set to reimburse participants in the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) by 50% of the approved RFID tags up to $1 per animal. This offering is up from the introductory rate of 25%, in an attempt to expand registration incentive.

Participation in the NAIS program is not required by Wisconsin law, although individual states are given the authority to do so based on local needs. Producers may choose to participate in one, two, or all three contingents of the NAIS.

The first step is to register the premises, which is the location where livestock are raised, held, or boarded, which includes farms, ranches, markets, exhibitions, or slaughtering facilities. This ensures that the producer will be notified quickly - based on the contact information - in the event of a disease outbreak. Premises registration is free, and does not require participation in the NAIS program.

The second step for added protection is Animal Identification. Each animal, or herd of animals, is tagged and assigned an individual animal identification number (AIN) which links the animal to its premises of origin. Producers can choose the type of tag they wish to use, such as a hanging ear tag or an imbedded chip. The USDA has approved tags from Allflex USA Inc., Digital Angel Corporation, and Global Animal Management.

The third voluntary step is to implement an animal tracing system, which is under development by the States and private sector. This system tracks where and with whom livestock has been in contact with, so in the event of a disease outbreak producers can identify where it is and where it is heading.