FALCONS ABOARD

​

Flying falcons is not your average cargo mission. It is a high stakes operation where precision, timing, and cultural awareness are essential. As falconry season begins in October and runs through March, Chapman Freeborn steps into its element, offering VIP clients, including royalty from the Middle East, a seamless charter experience tailored to these prized birds.

These falcons can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and transporting them is never as simple as placing them in a crate. Each flight requires regulatory clearances, preflight welfare checks, and onboard accommodations that range from specialized stands to reserved passenger seats covered in protective sheeting. To keep them calm, the birds remain hooded during the flight, while trained handlers stay close in the cabin.

The logistics can be complex, especially when live prey such as pigeons travel in the hold as feed. For a crew, that means monitoring not just altitude and fuel burn but also cabin environment and temperature controls. Timing, coordination, and communication with ground handlers are critical, and every detail has to line up so the birds arrive in peak condition.

Yet for Chapman Freeborn, this is a familiar assignment. With more than 50 years in air charter, the company manages client preferences, operator requirements, and crew readiness with precision. What may seem like unusual cargo to most airlines is routine for them. Their experience ensures every flight is safe, compliant, and falcon friendly from takeoff to touchdown.

https://chapmanfreeborn.aero

​​​