THE SAFEST CURRENT RISK FREE SERVICE TO EUROPE FOR ALPACAS

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Whilst, some arrangements are still being negotiated, with the world economical climate, the financial crisis, most countries have suffered over the past couple of years- airlines like other major business, have tightened their belts.
flights- although we see many cheap flights for people moving places.
The flights for moving livestock is not as plentiful as one may think.
Livestock are either moved on Passenger planes or on Freighters.
Although, the livestock are loaded in the passenger hull, AQIS will only allow this on certain model planes. Not all passenger planes can take livestock, and if there is fruit and vegetables, or other livestock going to other countries with different health status, like racehorses for intance, alpacas can then not travel on the same plane.
The alpaca market is not big enough at this current time, to be able to have priority on planes, that are suitable for carrying livestock, that is why in the past we have seen planes cancelled at the last minute. The other payloads have priority because they are regular, and good size payloads.
The plane that is being suggested to be used for transporting from NZ to Amsterdam, is not on the AQIS Main deck ventilation checklist.or Lower deck ventilation checkelist, so it would not be considered for transporting livestock, if this shipment was proposed to AQIS.
Just to give you an example of what i am talking about with the ventilation packs and the climate controls for the aircraft carrying livestock, this is an example that i require from the airline, to consider using the plane.

The model B747-200 (this is not the model proposed, the model proposed to go from AKL, NZ/ Singapore/ Madras, India, Shj/ Sharjah, United Arab Emerites, Amsterdam), is B744-400f) the planes we use haves 3 ventilation packs which makes it suitable for flight carrying livestock, where some models will have either 1 ventilation or 2 ventilation packs, whilst some countries will not query this.
It is questionable, that 2 ventilation packs on a plane is enough for the short and especially the long haul trips.
1 ventilation pack is definately not.
There are alot of operational factor considered when planning a flight. For example the diagrams above issued to Mariah Hill from airlines to ensue that every aspect of the journey is covered.
These are for the lower deck ventilation, be it passenger or Freight.

To: All 777-200 Station Heads 28 January 2009

Re: B777- 200 Temperature Control Systems

B777-200 zone temperatures are controlled by the cabin air conditioning and temperature control system (CACTCS). Hot trim air from the bleed air system is added through trim air valves in the

conditioning air supply ducts. The CACTCS modulates the zone trim air valves to achieve temperature of the conditioned air in each zone.

9MMRA – 9MMRI

The aft and bulk cargo compartments have independent bleed air heating systems for carriage of animals separated by an insulated curtain.

With the CARGO TEMP selector in LOW or HIGH, the respective cargo heat shutoff valve opens and the temperature control valve opens and closes to maintain the temperature in the compartment. The lavatory/galley vent draws air across temperature sensors in each compartment. If both vent fan fail, cargo heat is not provided.

With the CARGO TEMP selector in LOW and Total Air Temperature (TAT) less than 7 degrees C, the respective temperature control valve opens. The compartment temperature is maintained between 4 and 10 degrees C. With the CARGO TEMP selector in HIGH and TAT less than 21degrees C, the respective temperature control valve opens. The compartment temperature is maintained between 18 and 24 degrees C.

When the BULK CARGO TEMP selector is at HIGH, the bulk ventilation fan operates. The fan is provided for animal carriage. The system has automatic overheat protection. When an automatic overheat shutdown occurs, cargo heat to the related compartment cannot be restored in flight.

9MMRJ – 9MMRQ

Additionally, for aircraft registration 9MMRJ to 9MMRQ, when the FWD CARGO A/C selector in AUTO, the forward cargo heating system is shut off and a selected temperature is displayed on the AIR synoptic.

Automatic ventilation ensures that smoke and objectionable odors do not enter the flight deck or passenger cabin. If the selector is not available because of system failure, the packs maintain the last temperature set by the FWD CARGO A/C selector.

The availability of cargo heating system, aft and bulk cargo compartments for aircraft registration 9MMRA – 9MMRI and aft, bulk and fwd cargo compartments for aircraft registration 9MMRJ – 9MMRQ for carriage of live animals is subject to its serviceability.

Load planners are required to monitor on this cargo heating system serviceability and also changes in the aircraft rotation due operational requirement before planning to avoid mortality

of live animals.

This is the information i require before planning a shipment.
Currently, the safest most direct route through to Europe is through Canada, which meets all current regluations, we do not need to get any changes in the EU protocol, we do not have to worry about plane changes to get to the destination country, and the time in the air are relatively short compared to it's alternative.
I can only re-iterate, Airlines are there to make a profit, and they do not have soft hearts to giving in for a couple of crates here and there.
We have already gone through all the airlines, and other options.
YWe were able to foresee the eminant problem a bout three years ago, gave me the chance to go and look at other options, and to pursue these, and to have sent alpacas all the way through to Europe.....hassle free.
Many of you who have been privilaged to be on the senders list, i have spoken to many times personally, and my words will ring in your ears.
I have said for a long time, to plan ahead.
At this stage, with 4 shipments to Canada, i have not seen any complexity in any of the protocol, or the complete journey through to Europe.
In fact i have found the opposite.
I have ample size crates, to make this economical, without worrying about trying to get enough animals to go into a double crate.
The quarantine facility in Canada, is first class, and heated, experienced operators who are alpaca farmers themselves.
They are on the same hemisphere as Europe and on very close latitudes to the European countries that exports have gone to.
The animals have already aclimatised and adapted to the change of seasons, and so by the time they get to Europe, they are used to the daylight hours, and the seasons already.
The area is TB free, and BT free, so at this stage we have had smooth shipments, with no complexities.
This is a great alternative to NZ, and it is not calculated on guess work, on how it may happen.
It has already been done, and with success.
I think most of the Importers have dealt with me previously, nd know me well enough that i have always had the alpacas and importers best interest at heart.
I have always done the right thing personally.
14 hrs flight to Vancouver, and then only 8 hours flight from canada to Heathrow.
We can deliver to the following countries from 5 airports in Canada. This takes all RIsks,guesswork out of Importing.

-Heathrow + -Frankfurt + -Glasgow +-Zurich +Luxembourg -Geneva. Italy France

We are succesful exporters as we do our homework, we do the right thing, we only have the best interest of animals and Importers in mind, and we have always done that bit extra for all the people we have done work for.
We have studied the Eu Model RUm certificate, and looked into the directives, we have also had the experts in their field to consult with, and have always used the experts.
So whilst others try to work out other routes, this is working now.
Currently there is no alternative.