As the falconry season approaches, the aviation charter specialist demonstrates its unique capabilities in managing high-value falcon movements for Middle Eastern royal families and VIP clients.
The falconry season, which typically begins in October and ends in March, will soon provide Chapman Freeborn yet another opportunity to further solidify its role as the go-to partner for one of aviation's most unique services – the air carriage of live falcons.
Falcons are both culturally significant and of exceptional value across the Middle East. Some prized birds are valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars, making them among the most precious live cargo entrusted to aviation. Chapman Freeborn’s role is to ensure their safe, compliant, and comfortable transportation while delivering an elevated experience for VIP clients.
The company’s falcon charter services cater primarily to royal families and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) across the Middle East. Depending on the client’s needs and preferences, the scale of these operations can vary considerably. Some involve just a handful of birds on a private jet, while others demand extensive planning and coordination across multiple stakeholders.
As you can well imagine, transporting falcons is not something that airlines deal with very often, which means they’re not able to easily handle the intricate requirements involved. Every charter involves careful compliance checks and coordination with relevant authorities to meet international standards.
When it comes to physical accommodation during the flight, clients usually have three options: dedicated stands, specialized cages, and regular passenger seats covered in protective sheeting (falcons can make quite a mess!). To make sure the birds are calm and comfortable, they remain hooded throughout the journey – standard practice in falcon transportation – while their handlers and trainers remain close by and check in with them from time to time.
Considering the above, it probably won’t come as a shock to discover that a meticulous pre-flight coordination process lies behind every successful falcon charter. The company staff carefully oversee all regulatory, operational, and logistical requirements to ensure that every journey is fully compliant. If live prey, such as pigeons, are traveling with the falcons as feed, the crew is also tasked with keeping the cargo hold at the right temperature.
Chapman Freeborn’s expertise has been put to the test many times during peak falconry season, arranging at short notice the transport of dozens of falcons alongside passengers and their belongings.
The biggest logistical challenges often involve balancing client preferences with operator requirements. For instance, while some clients prefer their birds to travel outside cages for comfort, aircraft operators may require caging due to cabin protection concerns. This is of no big concern to Chapman Freeborn, as it always uses falcon-friendly aircraft, making the process of negotiating preferences a quick and easy one for both parties.
As the falconry season comes into view, Chapman Freeborn remains committed to providing tailored solutions that reflect both the cultural importance and monetary value of these remarkable birds. Through specialized knowledge, a proven track record, and an unwavering focus on both falcon welfare and client satisfaction, the company continues to set the standard for falcon transportation in the private aviation sector.
Chapman Freeborn has over 50 years of experience providing air cargo charter services for major corporations, governments, NGOs, relief agencies, and high net-worth individuals. The company is part of Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, operating a fleet of 209 aircraft worldwide and the parent company of over 250 subsidiaries. The group offers a wide range of aviation solutions, including MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), pilot and crew training, ground handling, and other related aviation services. Supported by 14,000 highly skilled aviation professionals, the group operates across 6 continents.
