Preparation for horse uplift

Specific Handling Procedures for Horses (IATA regulations 10.4.1)

Horses are very sensitive animals and they generally have a high value. Therefore, special care is required during all phases of transportation
To ensure flight safety, the presence of attendant(s) is /are necessary to supervise the behaviour of the animals and intervene if necessary.

Attendants must have received adequate training. Especially they must be qualified to administer tranquillisers and (after consultation with the Captain) euthanasia if deemed necessary.

Horses will only travel forward or backward to the direction of flight

The following procedures must be completed prior to the uplift of horse movements

Requirements prior to loading

A pre-operational check of equipment before use must be completed to ensure equipment serviceability. PPE (Personnel Protective Equipment) high visibility vest or jacket must be worn by all personnel when Airside ( will be provided to horse attendants by the freight forwarder )

Preparation of horse containers for carriage

The serviceability of horses containers must be checked prior to loading horses into containers. Aircraft operator ground handling manuals contain the serviceability requirements for containers.

It must be ensured that the designated horse container is clean and, if necessary, new absorption boards are in place to prevent the escape of excreta.

Horse containers:

The floor of the container must be covered with absorbent material-not straw.
There must be sufficient restraint straps available to secure horse containers to pallet bases in accordance with aircraft operator requirements.

Security gate staff must be advised of horse movements and airside visitors passes must be arranged to allow horse attendants to be airside. (Refer Paul Cullis Security Manager AaE )

Ensure horse ULDs are at loading docks well before aircraft Estimated Time of Departure to allow time for receipt of horses.

Horse ULD must be secure and free from obstructions.

Loading horses into containers

The horse ULD will be placed at loading dock and oriented so that horses heads will face forwards or backwards, as required, for transport to the aircraft

A barrow may be needed to place non essential goods (feed, rugs, gear) in under floor lockers The weight of freight must be communicated to the load planner to place on load sheet for final allocation to locker space

Horse Attendants must be accompanied to the security gate and signed in for visitors passes Photo ID: maybe required for entry airside.

Horses should be walked into horse transport units, doors locked and restraint straps secured.

Horse Attendants are to wear High Visibility vests; earmuffs or plugs and non-slip footwear should be worn on tarmac. (Steel capped safety footwear is preferred)

The Horse Transport Company at their expense will provide all safety material that includes the following: Fall restraint safety harness, vest, ear muffs or plugs and enclosed footwear

Loading horses into aircraft

For B727 operations, horses should be the last unit to be placed on aircraft where 10% of C&G can be obtained. Some times this may require a ballast or sufficient weight forward to allow this loading procedure.

Preferred positions on 727 aircraft are 2,3 or 4 (B C or D)

Horse containers should be towed to aircraft at a slow walking pace with any accompanying vehicles behind horse dollies. Attendants must walk directly behind, not beside moving dollies
(Attendants can accompany animals on pallet if fall restraint safety harness has been fitted)

Australian air Express staff shall supervise the movement of horses and attendants to ensure conformance with documented procedures.

Australian air Express staff must walk with horse attendants to ensure no person stands or rides on moving dollies and to provide instruction to vehicle drivers and the requirement to stop if necessary.
(Attendants can accompany animals on pallet if fall restraint safety harness has been fitted)

If it becomes necessary to stop vehicles, Australian air Express staff must ensure no-one attempts to stand on the dolly until it is completely stationary. Loading issues must then be completely resolved before continuing.
As a result of a risk assessment on the activity and in accordance with airport directives of no seat no ride, no person is permitted to ride on dollies (Attendants can accompany animals on pallet if fall restraint safety harness has been fitted)

When transporting horses, avoid sudden stops or movement that will upset the horses.

Beware of travelling behind aircraft with APU units in operation or noise volumes.

Once at aircraft, place dolly at end of scissor lift and transfer. Again, as a result of a risk assessment and in keeping with Victorian OH &S legislation & that other states will soon follow, no person is permitted to travel on a pallet loader without a fall restraint / harness. (AaE have a recommended Elevated Work Platform restraint Procedure).

The horse Transport Company must supply and ensure their employees have been trained in the correct use of the fall restraint harness.

An attendant will not be permitted to accompany the horse on the pallet loader if they do not have the fall restraint harness fitted

Horse handlers may gain access to horse containers either by entering aircraft through cabin door or via scissor lift side stairs. If scissor lift stairs are used, it must be ensured that main deck platforms are not raised or lowered during climb to avoid injury to horse handlers.

Horses are to be loaded in forward positions on both 727 & 146 aircraft (charters excepted)

Machine operators must allow sufficient headroom for horses and avoid jerky movements
With unit in place, loading staff must ensure all locks (bear traps) are in place and in a locked position.

Loading Live Animals with Dangerous Goods

Live animals will not be loaded in close proximity of cryogenic liquids or Carbon Dioxide, solid (Dry Ice). As the vapours emitted by Carbon Dioxide, solid (dry ice) are heavier than air, they concentrate on the lower level of the hold. Therefore, live animals should be stowed above packages containing Carbon Dioxide, solid (dry ice).

Category II – Yellow and Category III – Yellow (Radioactive) packages, overpacks and containers must be separated from live animals by a distance of 0.5 metres or more when carried less than 24 hours and 1.0 metre or more for carriage greater than 24 hours.

Prevention of dangerous movements by animals

Whenever horses, cattle or other large and heavy animal whose movements, if not effectively restrained, would alter the distribution of the load in the aircraft are carried, they must be secured in a stall so as to restrict their movement within the stall.

Container stowage

Containers holding animals must be stowed so that they are readily accessible to attendants responsible for the animal and the flight crew.

The container must be secured to the structure of the aircraft so as to prevent any movement of the container that may affect the aircraft load distribution.

Containers must be arranged so that the flight crew have access from the front to the rear of the aircraft through the compartment in which the containers are installed.

Carriage of Attendants

Consignors of horses must ensure that an experienced animal attendant accompanies the animal while it is carried in the aircraft.
Aircraft operators must provide the attendant with accommodation that is readily accessible to the container.
The employer of an attendant accompanying potentially dangerous animals must certify:
Attendants have the means to subdue or destroy any animal endangering the safety of the aircraft or its occupants. (After consultation with the Captain)
The attendant has received the necessary training to complete the above

Unloading horses from aircraft

Horse attendants must not stand near the doorway prior to unloading

Before aircraft unloading can take place, the receiving port should have a copy of the LIR from the forwarding port to ensure B727 aircraft 10% C of G safe handling tolerances are met.

The unloading process is completed in reverse to loading, and completed in conformance to aircraft operator ground handling requirements.

The aircraft operator and the weight and balance department of National Jet Systems for B727 & BAE-146 operations has approved this sequence for unloading of horses.

This B727unloading sequence is intended to provide a minimum amount of stress for the horses and ensure aircraft remain in balance.
Horse attendants must wear appropriate PPE (Personnel Protective Equipment) and high visibility vests.
Care must be taken during the unloading of horse movements so as not to upset the horses.

Sedation of horses

Tranquillisers shall only be used during the flight when a specific problem becomes apparent
and shall be administered by a Veterinarian or by a person who has had appropriate training or equivalent practical experience

Where access is possible, it is recommended that that the shipment is accompanied by an attendant who is familiar to the animal and who is competent to apply further medication if needed

Persons using these drugs must understand the full implications of the effects of the drug in air transportation, eg. Certain animals such as horses must not go down in containers

All drugs taken on board an aircraft must be listed on the AaE Medication Report prior to loading

Drugs must only be administered during the flight with the knowledge of the Captain.

In all cases when tranquillisers are used, the AaE medication report must filled out and be given to AaE staff upon arrival and stating the animal (s) individual weight, generic name of the drug used, the dose, method of administration and the time given.

If drugs are taken on board an aircraft the number of vials and syringes must be also included in the medical report and passed onto the load controller who will then advise the operating crew of the amount on board and the amount administered

If horses are to be sedated prior to, or during a flight, horse attendants administering the drugs must take used syringes and equipment off the airport and dispose of correctly.

The use of humane killers or anaesthetic darts within the confines of an aircraft is extremely dangerous. If used incorrectly, damage to the aircraft and injury to the attendants, crew or animal could result. Administration of such devices is intended for use by experts only, and must be avoided in air transportation

Under no circumstances are syringes or equipment be left in horse containers, on aircraft, or in any waste bin located in any airport or AaE building.

AAE staff will at the destination point check against the AAE Medical Report for all used and unused syringes and drugs being taken off airport by the horse attendants

(When horses are being unloaded, horse handling personnel must advise ramp staff if any drugs were administered and if so, confirm that that syringes and equipment are in the possession of the horse handling staff and/or in a “sharps container”.)

Responsibilities

The following details the responsibilities of parties involved in the carriage of horses by air:

Consignors of horse movements

Provide horse containers that meet appropriate regulatory, operator and IATA requirements.
Ensure horse containers are subject to a maintenance schedule that meets operator and regulatory requirements.

Provide horse attendants who are trained to a standard acceptable to aircraft operators and who have undertaken an OH & S briefing session, an annual update is required

Ensure horse attendants are equipped with the necessary equipment to sedate or perform euthanasia on a horse, (after approval from Captain) dependant on operator requirements. Attendants must have received training in the use of such equipment and ensure all syringes are accounted for and removed.

Freight forwarder

Inspect horse container to ensure their serviceability, in accordance with operators’ documented requirements- horseboxes must meet standard ULD serviceability limits. This must be completed early enough to allow for equipment repairs if necessary and at least two hours prior to departure should be allocated.

Restrain horses and containers in accordance with operators’ documented requirements

Aircraft operators

Identify horse containers approved or considered acceptable for carriage on operators’ aircraft.

Identify an acceptable horse container maintenance program/schedule which meets approved operator maintenance requirements

Identify an acceptable standard of training for horse handlers with regard to safety duties on board aircraft and provide any necessary training

Identify restraint procedures and equipment for horses and containers, which meets legislative, operator and IATA requirements. Such procedures must include longitudinal, lateral and vertical restraint procedures.

Summary

Appropriate documentation must be completed for all horse movements

Horse attendants may accompany the horse(s) on the pallet loader if the appropriate fall restraint is used ie Elevated Work Platform Restraint
AaE staff must supervise horse attendants to ensure their safety on ramp areas

Animals must be appropriately restrained in containers and containers on aircraft.

Staff must complete all activities in strict conformance to operator ground handling and loading requirements.

Horses from Perth that need to go to Syd will arrive into Mel at 13:00 on XM7091, then depart for Syd on XM7035 at 20:20 (horses will have to go off airport for this time between flights) Also horses from Tasmania will arrive one day and travel to Syd the next

The freight forwarder will provide all flight details including times

For movements from Mel to Perth and from Syd to all ports the best option is to charter an aircraft
Space from Melbourne to Adelaide is by charter only

To keep costs for charters as low as possible a minimum of six (6) horses will be needed

Freight forwarders can at times have space allocated on domestic sectors utilising International flights , these sectors are Sydney to Melbourne and Sydney to Perth

All horse bookings will be made through freight forwarders who are as follows: