Global Guide to Best Practices in Air Transport of Hatching Eggs, Day-Old Chicks, Poults and Ducklings

During Flight, Flight Delays and Transit When unforeseen flight delays happen, tips for maintaining DOC quality are: • Notify the forwarding agent or shipper of the delay. • Delay: If DOC have already been loaded, the GPU or APU must be used to ensure that suitable ventilation and temperature requirements are met. • If this is not possible, then the DOC must be brought back to the holding area. • Long Delay: For managing extended delays, seek shipper advice. • Stopovers : Make sure the NOTOC information on the compartments of the cargo carrying the DOC is available and that the temperature/ventilation conditions are satisfactory. Pilot and Flight Crew Must be Notified of DOC on Board! It is imperative that the pilot and flight crew are made aware that DOC are on board the aircraft. Proper notification ensures that the air supply to the cargo compartment isn't accidentally shut off during the flight, at an intermediate stop or at the destination (before DOC can be unloaded from the aircraft). The same notification should be forwarded by fax or email to intermediate stops and to the final destination. The flight number, Air Waybill number and pallet position need to be included so that DOC can be quickly offloaded upon arrival. Documents containing specific instructions regarding the care and requirements of live bird shipments must remain with the birds. When these crucial documents are separated from the bird shipment, the health and welfare of DOC may be compromised. If DOC are transferred to another aircraft at any point during the logistics process, it is crucial that all documents (especially health certificate and invoice) attached to the Air Waybill are transferred along with the DOC. Some shippers include documents in a special plastic pouch directly attached to the live animal shipments. However, not all importing countries accept this method. Consult with the freight forwarder or shipper when in doubt. Aircraft Unloading and DOC Holding The DOC must be transported to the warehouse immediately after they are unloaded from the aircraft to minimize exposure to weather conditions. An environmentally controlled truck is preferred for the transport. It is very important that the DOC are kept under conditions that include ventilation, especially if temperatures are hot. During landing, taxiing, loading and unloading, the air supply must never be shut off. DOC must not be stored with other avian species unless they adhere to the status demanded on the health certificate. 15