There has been some discussion on air transportation of animals and I
would like to expand a bit on this.
 
Aviation is built to accommodate people.  An airplane is an extremely
difficult vessel to modify where any such change makes not only a weight
issue but a structural issue.
 
Planes are pressurized inside for human comfort but not to sea level.
Normally the cabin is pressurized to what would normally be an 8000 foot
elevation.  The cabin expands and contracts with both the inside pressure
differential from the outside pressure but also the temperature extremes
which can vary by as much as nearly 200 degrees.
 
The cargo area normally is not pressurized and if so at best is
pressurized to a much lower pressure level than that of the cabin which
is low to begin with never mind lack of heat, is darn cold at cruise
altitude reaching as low as 100 below zero.  To have an adequate pressure
area for animals will require added weight and structure which is a huge
cost in engineering, maintenance and loss of added cargo carrying
capacity for the weight trade off.  This is the issue with the air lines,
cost and loss of revenue for the small bit of animal carry requirements.
 
The handling of animals in the terminal area is less costly than that of
the aircraft but is an added expense.  Animal handlers are usually not
very well trained and are at best adept to handle dogs and cats.  Ferrets
would do as well if the owner provided adequate container but air
transportation of a ferret is really not a good idea unless the airline
is well equipped and that will require deep investigation on your part
prior to purchasing such passage fare.
 
The only way to safely provide adequate air transportation is to buy the
seat next to you and use that to carry the pet carrier with the fert.
This is expensive but the only safe way to do so by air which planes are
made for people and hard cargo, not animals.
 
Gordon Bengtson  CI/ASMEL
[Posted in FML issue 4546]