In-flight environmental monitoring and management

Summary

The export of cattle, sheep and goats by air is very safe. The livestock sometimes travel in the cargo hold of a passenger plane, and other times in cargo planes – either fully chartered for the animals, or with other freight.
The temperature, humidity, and levels of ammonia and carbon dioxide in the hold are vital to the welfare of the animals, and depend on the amount of fresh air being circulated.

This project will develop, trial and validate real-time environmental monitoring equipment with the capability to alert the crew if conditions exceed safe limits.

The information will also be used to update the Livestock Air Transport Safety Assessment (LATSA) model, which sets limits on the number of animals allowed on a plane depending on the type of livestock, journey, type of plane and loading pattern.

Objectives

The primary objectives of this project are to:

• Measure atmospheric ammonia and carbon dioxide levels across a series flights involving the export of sheep, cattle and goats.
• Configure real-time environmental monitoring systems with set ‘safe levels’ for exposure to ammonia and carbon dioxide that will alert the aircraft crew if exceeded.

Benefits to industry

A real-time monitoring and alert system will increase the welfare and safety of animals being exported by air by allowing corrective action to be taken in the event of any issues with the aircraft ventilation.

It will provide assurance that the ventilation on board aircraft is being effectively managed and maintained.