Air Transport

The skies are busy

Size 2013
Large widebody 740
Medium widebody 1,580
Small widebody 2,390
Single aisle 13,580
Regional jets 2,620
Total 20,910
Copyright 2014 Boeing
And will get busier!
Size 2013 2033
Large widebody 740 790
Medium widebody 1,580 3,680
Small widebody 2,390 5,570
Single aisle 13,580 29,500
Regional Jets 2,620 2,640
Total 20,910 42,180
Copyright 2014 Boeing
Regional Jets
(2620 / 2640)
Small planes with small cargo compartments
Carriage of animals is extremely limited and is often not
possible
CRJ-200











By John Davies
ERJ-175









By Peter Bakema

Single-Aisle Jets
(13,580 / 29,500)
The workhorses of most airline fleets
Most aircraft can accept small shipments of animals
under certain limited conditions
Boeing 737








United Airlines
Airbus A320







Delta Air Lines

Small-Medium Twin Aisle Jets
(3,970 / 9,250)
The future of long-haul international air travel
Most aircraft can accept small-medium sized shipments
of animals under certain limited conditions

Airbus A330









Air Canada
Boeing 787











United Airlines
Large Twin Aisle Jets
(740 / 790)
A bigger airplane does not necessarily mean more
capacity for animal shipments
Most aircraft can accept small-medium sized shipments
of animals under certain limited conditions
Boeing 747










By Adrian Pingstone

Airbus A380







By Julian Herzog
How does this affect lab
animal transport?
In the future, more airplanes will carry more people on
more flights
Emphasis has been, and will continue to be, on
carrying people
Improvements in efficiency and productivity will drive the
airplane development, and airline purchasing, process
Anything that complicates the main task of carrying
people (e.g. live animals / lab animals) will require
thorough cost vs. benefit analysis

Cargo Compartments
Regional Jets






Diagrams 2002 Bombardier, Inc.


Cargo Compartments
Regional Jets






Embraer Commercial Aviation







Cargo Compartments
Single-aisle Jets






The Boeing Company

Cargo Compartments
Single-aisle Jets








Cargo Compartments
Small/Medium/Large twin-aisle jets








Cargo Compartments
Twin-aisle jets








Cargo Compartments
Twin-aisle jets - bulk compartment







Environmental Systems
The cargo compartments on all jet aircraft are
pressurized
Environmental Systems
All cargo compartments are minimally heated (approx.
40F) to prevent freezing of luggage and cargo
Heat supplied by warm air from the electronics
compartment (or in some cases, the cabin), blown
between the aircraft skin and cargo compartment liner
Air conditioning and ventilation systems vary greatly by
airplane model and individual airline requirements
Ventilation and air conditioning systems range from not
being available (e.g. Boeing 737) to elaborate systems
capable of maintaining specific temperatures inflight
Environmental Systems
Animal compartment heating system (typical)




No specific temperature control. System is either on
(65F), or off (45F)

Environmental Systems
Optional ventilation and air conditioning system
(typical)




Variable temperature control

Environmental Systems
Ventilation and air conditioning systems are powered
by the engines
Power is usually not supplied to these systems when
the engines are not running (i.e. during loading and
unloading)
Animals will be exposed to ambient temperatures
during loading/unloading

Environmental Systems
Ventilation and/or air conditioning systems are not
necessarily required to transport animals
These systems allow more animals to be carried in a
given amount of space than would otherwise be possible
Airbus, Boeing, Canadair and Embraer publish
technical guidelines for the carriage of animals on their
aircraft in ventilated and unventilated compartments
Careful planning and strict adherence to published
guidelines is essential to protect animal welfare


Environmental Systems
So why not install these systems on all planes?
Theyre expensive to buy: USD 100,000 500,000+ per
plane
Theyre heavy: 500-1,000+ lbs.
Weight is carried whether or not animals are on board
Cost to carry 1 lb. for 1 year: USD 18 20+, depending on
fuel cost
System weight lowers overall available cargo payload weight
and aircraft range
Additional maintenance required
Difficult to financially justify unless revenue from animal
carriage is significant (cost vs. benefit analysis)



Can small lab animals travel
in the cabin?
Generally speaking, the answer is No.
Why?
Not everyone wants to fly with a menagerie!
Fewer airlines will accept animals in the cabin
Concerns over real or perceived allergies
Escapes and potential for aircraft damage
Regulations
Those that do permit animals in the cabin restrict carriage
to dogs, cats, and perhaps birds




Airport Facilities
Standards do vary!






Airport Facilities
Few airlines invest significant resources in animal
transportation
Domestic:




United Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Focus is on pets and not commercial shipments


Airport Facilities
International




Facilities primarily designed for horses, cattle, zoo
animals, and pets





Airport Facilities
Cargo facilities are usually located far away from
passenger terminals







By National Aeronautical Charting Office (NACO), a department of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. [Public domain], via Wikimedia
Commons

In summary
More people, on more flights, on more planes
More consolidation in the industry, especially outside
the U.S.
Animal transportation will continue to be subject to
economic realities affecting all airlines. These will in
turn affect service options, aircraft purchasing
decisions, etc.
Limited potential market means that most airlines will
continue to view animal transportation as a small
sideline business not worthy of significant investment in
equipment and staff