www.privateairny.com Private Air | Winter 2025/2026
42
Chapman Freeborn continues to set the standard in falcon transportation,
combining cultural understanding, regulatory expertise, and operational
precision throughout the peak falconry season.
Words By: Michael Speed
FALCONS ABOARD
F
lying 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.
ese 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.
e 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. eir experience ensures every
flight is safe, compliant, and falcon
friendly from takeoff to touchdown.
https://chapmanfreeborn.aero
AVIATION
