Someone in a previous post mentioned temps of minus 50 degrees when in an aircraft. Having been a pilot and having flown in the Navy (In Iceland), I didn't remember temps getting that low, even in the dead of winter. Still, I was curious about my shipping courier, FedEx. I sent them a request and here is there reply:

Temperature
Temperatures on board FedEx aircraft vary depending on the type of plane, the location of the cargo compartment with respect to the fuselage and package placement within the compartment. Length of flight and cruising altitude also affect temperature. (All temperatures below are listed in Fahrenheit.)

- 727 aircraft: Normal temperature for the main cargo compartment is 65 to 85 degrees. There is a slight risk of temperatures below freezing in the lower cargo compartments of some 727s which have no insulation in certain areas.
- DC10 aircraft: Normal temperatures in the main cargo compartment range from 70 to 90 degrees.
- MD11 aircraft: The main cargo compartment is temperature-controlled between 65 and 87 degrees; the lower compartments are controlled between 40 and 90 degrees.
- 747 aircraft: Temperature is controlled between 40 and 90 degrees. Typically, cargo compartment temperatures range from 48 to 78 degrees during flight.
- A300/310 aircraft: Temperatures range from 65 to 85 degrees in the aircraft's upper zones; from 36 to 86 degrees in the lower cargo compartment; and from 41 to 79 degrees in the bulk cargo compartment. All ranges are +/- 4 degrees.

Note that depending on the location, weather and time of day, packages may be exposed to greater temperature extremes on the ground than in flight. Be sure to provide insulation for temperature-sensitive shipments. Please go to the FedEx Web site to download information on packaging perishables (see pages 7 and 8 in particular):


These temps are actually warmer than I expected.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

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