Commercial Fixed Wing
Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Procedure
Flight was planned with 3 kennels and approximately 180 lbs cargo for bulk pit. I added a max bag comment for the bulk pit not to exceed 40 bags due to the live animal airspace. Approximately 5 minutes before departure time; the Ramp Lead called to advise me that due to late connecting bags and the airplane locked up as far as adding additional bag containers; they loaded 73 bags in the bulk pit; 33 more than the max bag comment.I advised him that he needed to hold the flight since I now had to re-do the airspace calculator to make sure we had enough air for the kennels. His response to me was that the kennels were secure. I advised him that [that] didn't matter; I still had to check the airspace. I asked why he didn't load the bags in containers since we had plenty of room. He told me his Supervisor told him to lock the flight up and put them in the bulk pit. I told him at that time that one day; this will burn you. As I was checking the airspace; he continued to tell me about all the late bags that come to this flight and how he is being pushed for on time. I made the comment to him - which would you rather have; an on-time departure or kill the animals. We put these max bag comments in for a reason. I advised him the airspace was good and to let the trip go.
Air carrier Ramper reported being pressured to achieve an on-time departure by loading kennels without confirming adequate live animal airspace.