Dogs in aeroplanes!

[beany]

Hi All,

Just after a little advice if possible. My little dog is a almost a year old now and the other half and I are keen to take him away with us for the weekend in the PA28. He's got a lovely calm temperament and is nicely trained and now.

We wondered if the noise of the aircraft would bother him - no headset for him obviously! So, we taxied for fuel with him being held in the back a few weeks ago to see if it would bother him and he was great, sat there no bother. Obviously the engine noise would be quite a bit louder once the take off roll starts and I don't want to scare him. I thought starting with a quick local flight would be a good plan to check I wasn't going to terrify him to within an inch of his life!

Has anyone had any experience with flying with their dog? I'd obviously always have someone to watch him, not just me and him. Besides regular stops for toilet/drinks etc are there any other thing you can advise please? Also, has anyone seen or heard of them being affected by altitude in any way and to any greater extent than us humans?

Advice appreciated before I subject the poor chap to something that might be unfair.

B

[S-Works]

I have flying with mine since she was 3 months old. She has more hours than most pilots.

[flyingpony]

It's great he wasn't spooked by it. I would definately get a pair of mutt-muffs though, an engine at full power in an enclosed space can be torturous for some dogs, especially in the back of most light aircraft where the bass frequencies resonate

[xz0npz]

Well, I have two greyhounds and they have well over 100 flying hours each. Based in Blackpool, they have flown to Jersey direct (3 hours); Western Isles of Scotland; Alderney to Cornwall, etc. Up to FL100, but usually around 3-4,000 feet.

You have to know your own dog, of course, so there are no hard and fast rules. We take large comfortable beds and make sure that they have had exercise before we go flying. They are large dogs, but that's not a bad thing - they don't walk around whilst we are flying! (C172, usually - 1 in the baggage compartment, the other on the back seat).

We don't use ear defenders - they don't seem to mind not having them and they don't like anything on their heads. (How would you keep them on?)

We have also found lots of really good dog walks next to airfields (Donegal, Carenarfon, North Coates, Welshpool, Isle of Man, Oban, Mull - I could go on).

We love taking the dogs with us and they love flying. Far better behaved than kids! Go for it.

[Jan Olieslagers]

Excuse me for being radical, but I sincerely believe dogs have no place in our small light planes, unless VERY well secured. I must admit I am not a dog lover, and never having had one I am not acquainted with the race, but I understand no dog is guaranteed against the one incomprehensible moment of madness. This has provoked accidents bad enough with cars - in a plane I daren't even imagine what could happen.
And yes I know you Brits adore pets - I kept my first reply behind, out of respect.

[S-Works]

Excuse me for being radical, but I sincerely believe dogs have no place in our small light planes, unless VERY well secured. I must admit I am not a dog lover, and never having had one I am not acquainted with the race, but I understand no dog is guaranteed against the one incomprehensible moment of madness. This has provoked accidents bad enough with cars - in a plane I daren't even imagine what could happen.
And yes I know you Brits adore pets - I kept my first reply behind, out of respect.

Then best of you keep out of the debate as you know so little of dogs?

My Yorkie is highly unlikely to attempt to seize control of the aircraft or find anything to damage. She likes flying, has hundreds of hours and is great company. She even fly's at work with me on occasion.

[tyddynonn]

Our dachshund has recently (at the age of 11) taken to heli-flying, with no problems at all. She's even worked out when we're on approach and perks up to see where we're at.

Check out Welcome to Mutt Muffs! (http://www.safeandsoundpets.com/index.html)

[macsharon]

I think I met the couple with the two greyhounds, in Glenforsa a couple of weeks ago. The dogs were gorgeous and very contented. I also met a guy from Strathaven who had his terrier type dog fly with him, also she has her own custom headset - sooo cute!

Definitely worth pursuing. :ok:

[Doodlebug]

Flew with my little fox-terrier for years in Africa, mainly in C210's and C404's. He loved it, would eventually jump into any open aircraft in the hope of a flight. No problems ever, except maybe that he was always trying to eat the refueller at Jan Smuts. He even went up in gliders with me, turbulence didn't bother him a bit. Go for it, he's a dog, he'll love it!

[darn]

From the dogs point of view, surely some sort of hearing protection is vital? Most light aircraft are unbearably loud with no headset on for any length of time, and dogs have much better hearing than us. The pooch may seem quite content in the back, but would you be happy to sit there for the whole flight with nothing over your ears?

[ChampChump]

FLYER Forums • View topic - Do Not Laugh but MUTT MUFFS required (http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53478)
FLYER Forums • View topic - Taking dogs in a Warrior (http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61664)
FLYER Forums • View topic - Dogs and flying (http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=65196&hilit=dogs+flying)

Should answer most of it!

[rans6andrew]

Given the suggestion that the aircraft of the future will be crewed by a man and a dog. (the man is there to feed the dog, the dog is there to bite the man if he touches the controls) the sooner we get the dogs flying the better!

I have already seen the prototype, a man who always seems to have a golden retriever in the other seat of his Thruster. Last time I met him he was taking a new litter of puppies flying, one at a time.

Rans6...

[patowalker]

A guy I knew in Ecuador took his dog flying in a hang-glider. It had its own harness and stood on the pilot's back. Seemed to love it.

[Pudnucker]

Dog was before man in space, so why do dogs have no place in an aeroplane...?

My dog is far less of a pain in the arse in my aeroplane than my wife...

[7of9]

A guy at Sandtoft owns his own PA28 & takes his Labrador flying quite often & the dog seems to enjoy it, It sits in the back though even when he's on his own with no other human paz.


Saw him down at Duxford in July with the Labrador.
Nice chap & well behaved dog.

Trev

[Pilot DAR]

Treat the pooch like a person. If it is relaxed in the plane, don't worry. If it is worried, better head down.

I was flying the boss's 172 once, with he, and his great dane aboard. She was a lovely dog, though perhaps simply lonely in the back. She tried to get into the front with us part way through the trip. The boss fought the battle, I flew the plane. I think I remember some yelling. I'm glad the upholstery repair bill did not come to me!

[kevmusic]

....he'd be murder. Ho goes mental at cyclists and tractors. On the motorway, on the other hand, he sleeps at my wife's feet or on her lap, so I guess, in the air he'd be fine. Just avoid cyclists and tractors. In fact, perhaps he could be a sort of low-budget TCAS... :}

[JW411]

My springer spanniel did a lot of flying with me in the BN Islander. She absolutely loved it and the noise didn't bother her at all.

[BEagle]

I thought that this was another thread about ba stewardesses (or whatever the PC title is these days).....:\

[172driver]

or whatever the PC title is these days

BEagle, FYI: They're called 'Wagon Dragons' now.... :E

[beany]

Thanks for the replies everyone, that's really helpful! We'll give it a go and see how he enjoys it. He aboslutely loves travelling in the car and as long as he can see what's going on he's very content.

Those ear protectors are great, would not have even expected such things existed.......not sure why!! I wonder how long they'll last on him though! I did worry about his ears and that it might not be all that pleasant for him with the constant noise but as long as it doesn't bother him I'm happy.

Thanks for the airfield suggestions as well, we'll give those a try.

B

[Tankengine]

Be careful!
Some Labradors do not like Barrel rolls!:eek:

[IngoWolf]

I've red somewhere that while dogs hear much bether they can resist noice bether too.

Look like dogs behave to themeselves - much harder then theyr owners, lauder e.g.

I think there are less dogs suffering from flying than humans.

You do right start with a little taxiing, a short flight on nice not hot day and your dog should get used to it quickly have someone taking care of it first flights.

And have it secured in the back.

A GA Flight should not be much a difference from an car ride for a dog.

[beany]

So the little pooch had his first land away this weekend. Sunday was nice and we took him for a short hop and he was great! He chilled out in the back, sat up at the window looking out, didn't even flinch when I opened the throttle!

He even charmed a nice gent in the club house into donating a chip on the way out!

I think he surprised us both! :) Wish we'd taken him sooner!

I'll see if I can post some pics next time............

[stickandrudderman]

I used to take mine with me until he chewed through a cirrus seat belt and cost me £600......

[NazgulAir]

If you like your dog to stay in the baggage area compartment behind the rear seats and not be able to climb forward, there is a better way than fixing a leash to a hard point.

The problem with the leash is that the leash can get into a hopeless tangle when the dog turns around to find himself a comfortable resting position.

Here's an quick and easy way to create a lightweight partition:

Get yourself a net with a suitable size mesh.
Get a plastic tube such as builders use to thread electricity wires through walls and floors.
Measure the circumference of the space where you want to place the partition.
Mark an area slightly larger than that circumference on the netting.
Thread the tube through the netting at the marked line., from the bottom position at one side to the bottom position on the other side.
The netting bunches on the tube when it is straight. The tube itself is flexible and will follow the contours of the partition when it is placed in position, and the netting can then be pulled in position as well.I once had my dog clamber over the seats to get to me when one of my backseat guests teased him and upset him so much that he wanted my reassurance. He obeyed me when I told him to go back, but this made me realize that I needed a partition. It works two ways -- it creates safety against pilot distraction and interference with the operation of the plane, and it also creates a safe area for the dog in which he doesn't have to be put on a leash.

[IO540]

Surely it must depend on the dog.

Some of the ones coming out of Primark with their £1 T-shirts do look pretty rough and no way would I take one up for a flight.

[inbalance]

I took mine from the breeder by airplane at the age of 10 weeks.
Medium Schnauzer.
I had the choice between 1 hour flight and 5 hours by car.
He was afraid only by the radio, because it was too loud.
After I swiched to headphones only, he was sleeping after a few minutes.

He got his own Logbook and have been in the air for 250 hours since then.
He has traveled on SEP´s, King Airs, PC12 and CJ3.

During Taxi he tries to look out of the windows, shortly after take off he starts to sleep.
I believe that he can´t see anything interesting during flight.
He also jumps into every open airplane.

During an outside check of the jet I layed him down in the shadow next to the front wheel. He protected the plane against the refueler, 2 handling agents and a mechanic :-)
Told him to bite every SAFA Ramp Checker, but he needs more practise on that.

Inbalance

[Maoraigh1]

Dog in rhs in accident.
WPR11LA064 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20101130X13810&key=1)

[Pace]

but I understand no dog is guaranteed against the one incomprehensible moment of madness.

Jan

Of course humans are all well behaved? I witnessed one woman suffering a panic attack and going hysterical, drunks being abusive and violent! You mame it humans have done it from suicide attempts to terrorism, Dogs are the least of our worries.

Pace

[David Roberts]

Strap them in......

YouTube - plane: 0 gravity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN77b9DqEbc)

[1.3VStall]

My Parson Russell Terrier is quite happy in the back of our syndicate DR400 - he's asleep minutes after take off, just as he drops off quietly when we go out in the car. We put his bed on the back seat and he wears the same body harness that he wears in the car, through which we thread the seat belt. There is therefore no possibility of him becoming a loose article if my landing does not go as planned!

A word of warning though, don't try and take a dog into Duxford for the Flying Legends Air Show as I did a couple of years ago. As I shut down a jobsworth in a hi-vis vest and clutching a management radio appeared and took great delight in telling me that dogs were not allowed on the site, even if on a lead. After it became clear that he was not open to persuasion I yelled "Clear Prop!" and f**ked off again before they could cop me for a landing fee!:ugh: