transporting deceased onboard airliners?
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transporting deceased onboard airliners?
is this a morgue on board?
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/529497/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/529497/L/
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Sadly, dead folk are transported just like any other piece of freight; it quite saddened me the first time I saw a (full) coffin, wrapped in hessian on the ramp and then forklifted onto the aircraft. I suspect the only concession would be if the family was there for some reason. At the other end, the coffin was (carefully) forklifted into the hearse for onward transport.
The only difference form a box of spanners is that the captain is given a Notice to Aircraft Commander (NOTAC) informing him that he is carrying 'human remains'.
The only difference form a box of spanners is that the captain is given a Notice to Aircraft Commander (NOTAC) informing him that he is carrying 'human remains'.
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wbryce,
That is not for dead people, though I suppose one could be put in there. I had a guy die next to me on a flight from Seattle to Phoenix and they booted two people out of First Class and put him up there underneath one of the stews blue overcoats. I helped pack him up there.
That is not for dead people, though I suppose one could be put in there. I had a guy die next to me on a flight from Seattle to Phoenix and they booted two people out of First Class and put him up there underneath one of the stews blue overcoats. I helped pack him up there.
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The other difference with cargo is that a deceased body has to be accounted for as a person on the flight plan!
With the travelling retired baby boomer people getting older, it will be interesting to have a morgue for LROPS with A 340 and A380.... as statistics for having a deceased person arising in flight's going to increase with the lenght of flight, number of people on board and ageing of population....
(sorry for english faults... not my first language...)
With the travelling retired baby boomer people getting older, it will be interesting to have a morgue for LROPS with A 340 and A380.... as statistics for having a deceased person arising in flight's going to increase with the lenght of flight, number of people on board and ageing of population....
(sorry for english faults... not my first language...)
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Even more sad, fokker, is watching a coffin being unloaded from the bulk hold on a B747 via a conveyor, getting about one third the way down the belt before gently sliding off the side, hitting the tarmac and shedding it's contents! It has happened and more than once.
Last edited by BlueEagle; 25th Mar 2004 at 03:06.
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Thank you for your replies. I found the corresponding discussions at airliners.net
http://www.airliners.net/discussions...ain/1450255/6/
http://www.airliners.net/discussions...ain/1451448/4/
http://www.airliners.net/discussions...ain/1450255/6/
http://www.airliners.net/discussions...ain/1451448/4/
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The other difference with cargo is that a deceased body has to be accounted for as a person on the flight plan
I dont think thats correct!
It is shown on the loadsheet as HUM/weight. Just another bit of revenue im affraid, not a passenger as we know it.
I have also witnessed a coffin sliding off a belt loader and opening up on the ramp!
No one would help me put the old girl back in!
She never thanked me either!
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<Dogs, it would seem, know straight away that there are HR on board and don't stop howling.>
Yes- this is strange. I've had several dogs and they've all been very 'disturbed' in the presence of dead things and greatly relieved to get away. They definitely understand a lot more than we give them credit for.
This is not a word of a lie. We transitted Perth Australia in a Classic 747 with a dog in the hold. Whilst doing our checks, probably not the brightest loader in the world appeared on the Flight Deck and asked the Captain: "Captain, this radioactive package has got written on it 'not in the same hold as livestock', and we've got a dog in the hold. Can we store it on the Flight Deck?". One of only 2 occasions in my life when I have been totally unable to speak.
Yes- this is strange. I've had several dogs and they've all been very 'disturbed' in the presence of dead things and greatly relieved to get away. They definitely understand a lot more than we give them credit for.
This is not a word of a lie. We transitted Perth Australia in a Classic 747 with a dog in the hold. Whilst doing our checks, probably not the brightest loader in the world appeared on the Flight Deck and asked the Captain: "Captain, this radioactive package has got written on it 'not in the same hold as livestock', and we've got a dog in the hold. Can we store it on the Flight Deck?". One of only 2 occasions in my life when I have been totally unable to speak.
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Best one I had was on my command check:
VERY dim dispatcher opened the flight deck door and asked:
"Got some explosives for the rear hold; that alright with you?"
I have transported human remains in the RAF and a civil airline.
I recall the RAF required a figure for 'Souls on Board' which included the dead infant in a tiny little coffin strapped to the floor of the cabin behind us.
A civil airline just carries HR as freight. Quite undignified really.
VERY dim dispatcher opened the flight deck door and asked:
"Got some explosives for the rear hold; that alright with you?"
I have transported human remains in the RAF and a civil airline.
I recall the RAF required a figure for 'Souls on Board' which included the dead infant in a tiny little coffin strapped to the floor of the cabin behind us.
A civil airline just carries HR as freight. Quite undignified really.
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For clarification:
Human Remains are carried as Cargo, they should be treated with the utmost respect at all times (I cannot talk for colleagues on the Ramp or at outstations).
If a HUM is manifested for travel as cargo then the following rules should be applied (this is certainly how we delat with them at LGW):
1. The HUM is wheeled out of the morgue on a trolley and taken to the build beds (Cargo ULD on a rollerbed system)
2. The HUM is gently lifted at both ends and carefully put onto the blades of a forklift truck
3. The HUM is then gently lowered onto the ULD and strapped into place.
4. The pallet is then netted and covered in black plastic. the build card on the ULD is annotated with HUM to show the Ramp crew and anyone else who cares to look that Human Remains are on that ULD.
HUM in my experience never went as "Bulk" Cargo, they are not put near ANY live animals (AVI) and any hazardous (HAZ) cargo that is manifested for that service should be built on a separate ULD, if this is not possible and has to go on the smae ULD as the HUM then it should be as far from the HUM as possible.
Quote:
A civil airline just carries HR as freight. Quite undignified really.
I agree in a way but if this is the only way to get the HUM back to the UK or out to where it needs to go then its the only way
Human Remains are carried as Cargo, they should be treated with the utmost respect at all times (I cannot talk for colleagues on the Ramp or at outstations).
If a HUM is manifested for travel as cargo then the following rules should be applied (this is certainly how we delat with them at LGW):
1. The HUM is wheeled out of the morgue on a trolley and taken to the build beds (Cargo ULD on a rollerbed system)
2. The HUM is gently lifted at both ends and carefully put onto the blades of a forklift truck
3. The HUM is then gently lowered onto the ULD and strapped into place.
4. The pallet is then netted and covered in black plastic. the build card on the ULD is annotated with HUM to show the Ramp crew and anyone else who cares to look that Human Remains are on that ULD.
HUM in my experience never went as "Bulk" Cargo, they are not put near ANY live animals (AVI) and any hazardous (HAZ) cargo that is manifested for that service should be built on a separate ULD, if this is not possible and has to go on the smae ULD as the HUM then it should be as far from the HUM as possible.
Quote:
A civil airline just carries HR as freight. Quite undignified really.
I agree in a way but if this is the only way to get the HUM back to the UK or out to where it needs to go then its the only way
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Fokker, its a NOTOC (NOtofocation TO Commander/Captain).
However, its up to the individual airline to define if a NOTOC is required for a HUM.
Bluejay,
HUMs are often transported as bulk load, although seldom in the bulk of a containerized AC.
brgds FS
However, its up to the individual airline to define if a NOTOC is required for a HUM.
Bluejay,
HUMs are often transported as bulk load, although seldom in the bulk of a containerized AC.
brgds FS
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Usually it is all the movement around the a/c that start the dogs off and nerves. Probably they can detect that many of the loading staff only have two speeds dead slow and stop.
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Never done it on an airliner because I've not yet had the pleasure of flying an airliner but have done it on a BN-2 Islander in the Caribbean. Seats out, box in. Came from NY to St. Maarten, N.A. en-route to Antigua. I seem to recall being told that the cost was the same as a standard ticket but she got to lie down the whole way. I'm sure the loaders/unloaders of the big a/c did it fairly competently but I and a company helper had to manhandle the very heavy box (thrice layered and sealed within a metal box inside the absolutely huge aluminium outside coffin) into the BN-2. The only way in was slightly on end, definitely on the side, with some ominous clunking noises from inside. Rather glad it was a daytime flight!
There was also the "morgue smell". Hard to describe but I guess they try to provide a sort of frankincense-and-myrrh athmosphere to the proceedings. Of course the other end was even more shambolic as we had to wait for the completely late undertaker to turn up in what looked like the hearse out of the Jamaican Bond film (don't remember the name), with the sun beating down on box and getting behind schedule.
No idea what she looked like when they opened it up for family viewing but she probably needed a hairdresser after being turned upside down and sideways.
Not really my favourite flights but the customer is always right, especially when you're doing charters.
Thought for the day!
el dorado
There was also the "morgue smell". Hard to describe but I guess they try to provide a sort of frankincense-and-myrrh athmosphere to the proceedings. Of course the other end was even more shambolic as we had to wait for the completely late undertaker to turn up in what looked like the hearse out of the Jamaican Bond film (don't remember the name), with the sun beating down on box and getting behind schedule.
No idea what she looked like when they opened it up for family viewing but she probably needed a hairdresser after being turned upside down and sideways.
Not really my favourite flights but the customer is always right, especially when you're doing charters.
Thought for the day!
el dorado
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Used to fly Chicago to Italy regularly and many of the flights had a HUM on the loadsheet. I used to think they were huge gangster figures being sent home to be buried as they were always of the order of 200kg on the loadsheet until I learned it's the lead lined boxes they are shipped in.