FAA Revises Cargo Shipment Rules Sept. 19, 2001 In an effort to increase security and public confidence in air travel, the Federal Aviation Administration has enacted strict new guidelines for the shipment of cargo and this includes live animal shipments.  Airlines will no longer accept any live animal shipments from unknown shippers.  This means that breeders and brokers used to shipping offspring and adult animals need to apply with the various airlines they do business with and gain a known shipper status. The requirements and application forms for such a status vary among the airlines, but a common component of each seems to be a requirement that shippers have used the airline for a minimum of three cargo shipments in the preceding 6 months. Phone the cargo department of the airlines you wish to use and request an application to become a  Known Shipper.  Some airlines will e-mail the form - Continental, for instance, write them at  cocargo@coair.com or call them at 713-324-1939 to request the form by FAX.   I filled out the form and FAXed in three airway bills with it and I was approved and assigned a number in a matter of hours.  Other airlines will FAX the form when you submit a request by phone - call Northwest at 800-345-9987 and a computer recording will ask you for your FAX number to receive an application for credit, which is the same form used to obtain a known shipper status. For Delta, I was directed to my local airport cargo department.  I spoke with the cargo department manager and was asked to FAX in three airway bills, dated in the past 6 months, not on the same day or consecutive days. I called several hours later and was assured I am now a known shipper, and can ship what I want, but an official number will be assigned me by Atlanta later this week. American Airlines Cargo at 800-227-4622 should be able to FAX you a copy of the Known Shipper application, though the person I spoke with was unaware of this. She referred me to a cargo representative in Dallas at 972-425-3598. He informed me that in compliance with the new FAA rules, American will require that a form be filled out and one of the requirements is that at least three shipments, on non-consecutive days have been made using American Airlines in the past 6 months. Considering that American has had a live animal flight embargo for the past 5 months, I suspect not many breeders will qualify for this known shipper status.  Pet Air at 1-877-FLY PETS is a shipping company with a service contract with American Airlines that allowed many people to ship live animals during the heat embargo using their service. They already require that all clients be known shippers with them. I filled out one of these forms a few years ago, and paid a $25.00 processing fee. It did not require any previous use of their service, but it did ask numerous questions about my location, finances, business dealings and required several references. I advise anyone planning to ship live animals, to bring three airway bills to the airport, dated in the past 6 months with you so that should there be any question of whether or not you are a known shipper, you have proof. And have your known shipper number written down along with the reference number issued when you pre-booked your animal flight by phone. Submitted By: Lynn Culver, Legal Affairs Director Copyright: 2001 LIOC-Endangered Species Conservation Federation