36


Issue 3 2013


///LIVESTOCK LOGISTICS


Kangaroos, crocodiles and hippos – they all can fly


You name it, IAG Cargo has flown it. FBJ talks to Gabriella Tamasi, global product manager premium products at IAG Cargo


FBJ: As far as commercial movements of animals are concerned what sorts of livestock does the airline move? GT: IAG Cargo is capable of


moving an incredibly diverse range of animals. If you can think of it, chances are we have shipped it. This includes everything from a tree kangaroo and crocodiles to a hippo and even some sharks – and that was just last year. How does most business come to


the airline? Are there forwarders that specialise in this area, or is it more a matter of the shipper dealing direct with the airline? There are some niche shippers


that specialise in the transport of exotic animals and zoo-to-zoo transfers. Others specialise in pet shipping and are members of the International Pet and Animal Transport Association (IPATA). Shippers will usually choose a freight forwarder that has a good reputation for the treatment of animals during transport. Is the airline guided by the shipper on what the animal needs or does it have its own expertise? At IAG Cargo we have


accumulated a great wealth of experience and knowledge in the transport of live animals. We also work closely with the shippers to ensure that their animals have as comfortable a flight as possible, a point of care in which we take great pride. For


example, when we


transported Lola the hippo from Marwell Zoo in Hampshire to Montgomery Zoo in Alabama last autumn, we made sure that the shipper was able to stay with her until the last possible moment, thereby helping to reduce stress. We also gave her a shower just before the flight


to ensure


maximum comfort. If an animal or bird has specific environmental requirements how far is it possible to accommodate this?


The packing of animals is the


responsibility of the shipper and not the airline. When we accept


receipt of an animal however, we do ensure that they are packed according to IATA Live Animals Regulations (IATA LAR) and that the animals are well cared for whilst with us. We look forward to receiving


our new fleet of aircraſt later this year, where we will have more control over heating and air conditioning in-flight. This will allow us to offer an even better in-flight environment for animals. Which are the most difficult creatures to handle? Are there any that are simply too difficult or dangerous to move by air? While we can handle all


animals, some naturally travel better than others. Provided the animals are packed according to IATA LAR regulation there should be absolutely no danger to animals or handling staff. That said IAG Cargo does have


a policy not to carry certain types of snub nosed dogs (Bulldogs, Pugs and Pekingese and any cross breeds of these types). This is because these breeds have been known to develop breathing difficulties when in- flight. Is it common practice for attendants to accompany animals in transit? Generally this is not common


practice. An exception is made however for horses. For all other animals, a


specialist is usually present prior to take-off and immediately upon arrival. We pride ourselves in working closely with shippers and helping them to provide the best care possible for their animals. This oſten leads to us making special provisions for unique cases. For example, when we helped


transport sharks from Miami to the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, we provided specialist staff from the centre with privileged access to our facilities at Heathrow to help monitor the sharks as soon as they landed. Do animals tend to be moved


through specific airports? In some instances animals can


only be moved between certain airports. This is usually down to factors such as the size of the animals. Horses, for example, are so large that they can only be transported on a freighter. This means they must be transported between airports that run dedicated freighter services. IATA has recently put out its cargo tracker with a mention of mandatory training for transport of Live Animals by 2014. What are the implications? (Currently there is no minimum


training requirements outlined in the LAR for personnel involved in transportation, acceptance, reservation, handling, loading of live animals either as part of passenger baggage or in cargo and, to address the lack of training


requirements in the regulation and to align with existing international legislation, IATA Cargo with the LAPB and the animal welfare experts have developed a framework training syllabus. The provisions in the LAR will be enhanced in its 2014 edition to set mandatory minimum training requirements for acceptance staff at the airports.) IAG Cargo has had mandatory


training in place for all acceptance and booking staff as well as any member of staff involved in live animal shipping for a considerable number of years. I myself was present at the IATA LAPB meetings when this subject was discussed and we agree with IATA that training is very important and should be made mandatory for all handling of live animals.


It’s a dog’s life in Frankfurt


Marcia MacLeod has been sniffing around in the Animal Lounge


The German Shepherd was pacing his stall while the Labrador barked continuously. The Newfoundland and


Bernese Mountain puppies Dog looked very confused.


Only the Pug seemed happy with life, running around his temporary home, pulling his bedding to bits and rolling over in apparent glee. All of


these dogs were at


Luſthansa’s Animal Lounge at Frankfurt Airport, waiting for their flights. But dogs make up only a fraction of the guests at the Animal Lounge. The facility celebrated its fiſth birthday in March with a visit by four walruses - the heaviest live cargo to be handled at the facility. One adult weighing 4.5 tonnes was accompanied by three young walruses, all destined for Hamburg Zoo. A heavy duty forkliſt had to be seconded from elsewhere in the airport to liſt their pallets. The Animal Lounge, built,


to cater for a growing business, welcomes 110m mammals, amphibians, birds, and fish per year, double the number of human passengers using Luſthansa’s services. Last year, around 2,000 horses were transported through Frankfurt, as well as over 14,000 pet dogs and cats, many of them being exported by European breeders, around 80m tropical fish, and exotic animals ranging


from big cats, rare lizards, and minks to rhinos and even a giraffe. There are 42 large animal stalls,


39 small animal boxes, three separate rest areas for cats, aviaries and 18 individual temperature- adjustable chambers for animals that need to be kept cool or warm. Separate export, import and transit areas ensure that every animal is correctly positioned for transfer to aircraſt or collection by consignee, while a veterinary area allows animals to be checked over for disease and injury and to ensure it has the necessary vaccinations. Special cargo needs special


treatment. Cats, dogs and horses are petted, dogs exercised, walruses sprayed with water and all animals are fed and watered as necessary. Animals may only account for about 1% of Luſthansa Cargo’s business, but the returns, in financial terms, are not to be sniffed at.


Eagles take off with Air Partner


Charter operator Air Partner’s freight team worked with RSPB Scotland last year to fly six live white-tailed sea eagle chicks from Alesund in Norway to Edinburgh as part of a translocation project. Now in its sixth year, the East Scotland Sea Eagle Project is a partnership between RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage


and Forestry


Commission Scotland and financed by Heritage Lottery., aims to reintroduce the species back to the east coast of Scotland following successful reintroductions to the west coast in the 1970s and 1990s. Air Partner Account Manager


Lindon Cooper said: “When you’ve got live cargo to transport, it is particularly important


to ensure


that everything goes smoothly. We adapted the aircraft to ensure that the cabin was kept as dark as


possible, and that noise was kept to a minimum. The cabin temperature also had to be controlled at


14


degrees Celsius to maintain optimum conditions.” Air Partner is always very


selective in the aircraft that it uses. All aircraft will generate an element of noise, especially on take-off, so this is always an important consideration but smaller turbo-prop aircraft tend to be quieter than jets, so this is the preferred solution. For these supremely sensitive


cargoes, temperature is a key issue. Heat can build up very quickly in the cabin, so it is important to monitor this and maintain a stable temperature. Temperature can be regulated with the aircraft’s own ventilation system and with specially installed fans, to keep


air moving around the


Eagles are doing well in Scotland thanks to Air Partner’s team


cabin. Conditions are also often maintained by an attendant making regular manual checks, as well as with the use of temperature sensors throughout the load. For example, when Air Partner


transports one day old chicks, it uses floor protection to protect them from cold contact with the aircraft floor, and the animal boxes are packed in such a way as to allow for stability while still providing suitable ventilation around each box. The charter firm also puts a lot of work into pre-planning, including


customs and documentation requirements. Cooper says: “It is when transporting sensitive cargo like this that using an established broker can be invaluable. Air Partner has been in the business for over 50 years and consequently has unparalleled experience and expertise in this kind of work.” Bruce Anderson, RSPB Scotland,


added: “Attention to detail and the timely operation of these flights are key to the project’s success; the service we received from Air Partner helped to us to achieve this.”


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