Air-Pens are a collapsible and robust animal penning system - the lightest
air-worthy system on the market. They are used for horses, ostriches, and
other tall animals transported in bulk. They are designed primarily for the
main deck of the 747 Freighter.
The Air-Pen's design emphasizes operator efficiency, without sacrificing
animal and handler safety. The flat and smooth components of the Air-Pens -
including fasteners and fittings - insure there is no way for the animals or
personnel to injure themselves. All of the interlocking mechanisms operate in
the plane of their panels; so knobs or levers do not protrude and cause
harm. The units require no base, and use the pallet to serve as the floor. Animals are typically loaded into each Air-Pen on the tarmac, or away
from the aircraft. The horizontally sliding loading door quickly locks each
unit, reducing the risk of handler or animal injury during the potentially
hazardous process of loading and unloading. The entire pen and its contents fly netted,
and are loaded into the aircraft as standard cargo. The Air-Pens can be loaded in
either direction in the aircraft.
The collapsible design and light weight provides repositioning flexibility.
The units can easily be collapsed and returned stacked. Each shrinks to a
collapsed height of less than 6 inches. An entire 747 ship-set of Air-Pens can
be returned quickly and cheaply on two pallets in the belly of a wide-body, or
main deck of a narrow body aircraft.
The rugged aluminum and fiberglass construction of the pens make them easy
to clean with a high pressure hose or steam cleaner.
The Air-Pens shown here meet IATA requirements for the transport of
animals. They are designed for use on all of the pallets and aircraft listed
below.
Configurations Option Equipment
Containers
Air-Pens
Single Air-Pen as stacked on a pallet
Air-Pens are configured as a single tall pen, with a horizontally sliding
load door on the longest side. Reference the IATA Live Animal Handbook for
animal grouping information and compatibility based on size and temperament of
the animals to be shipped in the pens.
Required Equipment
The following equipment is required to use the above equipment on any of
the aircraft listed below. Pallets, nets, and tie-down straps are generally
supplied by the carrier, and are usually made available to the shipper in advance.
| Pallets | For any one of the standard pallet sizes listed below. You'll need one pallet per unit. |
| Straps | Not required but useful during loading. Standard (5,000 lbs.) aircraft tie-down straps keep this container sound during loading and other pre-netted operations |
| Nets | Standard TSO cargo nets - one per pallet. Throw it over the pen and secure it to the pallet after loading. The high walls of the pen will keep the net off the heads of the animals |
| Bedding | While not absolutely a requirement, we list it here because bedding is sometimes used. This can vary from a rubber mat to an adsorbent media. We can supply whatever you need if you're unsure what's best for a flight or destination, you can look it up in the IATA Live Animal Handbook - or just ask us. |
| Plastic Sheeting | Again, not an absolute requirement, but plastic sheeting is usually laid on the pallet, and taped a foot or so high on the outside of the pens. This insures animal waste doesn't escape the container during flight or unloading. If you need it, let us know and we'll get it for you. |
Specifications
| Capacity | Based on animal type and floor loading of the aircraft. | |
| Approved Aircraft | 747 Combi or freighter aircraft | |
| Approved Pallets | Size M Class II | 96.0" x 125.0" |
| Weight | Pen | 447 lbs. (203.2 kg) |
| Pallet | 200 lbs. (91 kg) | |
| Dimensions | Erect | Length: 124.0" (315 cm) |
| Width: 95.0" (241 cm) | ||
| Height: 95.0" (241 cm) | ||
| Collapsed | Length: 124.0" (315 cm) | |
| Width: 95.0" (241 cm) | ||
| Height: 5.5" (14 cm) | ||