In the wake of the devastation from Hurricane Harvey, PilotsNPaws, a non-profit organization that uses volunteer general aviation pilots and planes to transport rescued animals, has put out a call for larger airplanes to help rescue animals caught in the hurricane and flooding.
“Our small planes just cannot get in and out and fly in this weather,” said Deborah Boies, founder of PilotsNPaws. “We have animals that were already in rescues and shelters waiting for adoptive homes, we have places for them to go, in order to make room for the animals that are displaced from the hurricane who really need to stay in the area to try and connect with their owners.”
While teams are standing by to help the animals, most of the planes used by Pilots N Paws pilots are Cessnas and smaller planes “that just cannot handle” the weather, she noted.
She noted that Pilatus aircraft would be great as they can “hold more dogs than you can imagine with a few seats removed and, of course, protective plastic placed.”
If you fly a larger GA aircraft and are willing to help, contact Bois at PilotsNPaws.org
Flights are tax-deductible, she added.
Normal TFRS and Presidential TFRS between the 10 and 30 mile ring are not a big deal if you are IFR, If you are VFR there are some additional procedures that I like to refer to as IFR lite. Inside the 10 mile ring of Presidential TFRs things get complicated. They have modified the 10 mile ring rules for the Harvey, but they are still restrictive (for good reason).
How about our Rotary friends to fly them to a nearby airport and let the fix wing crews take them from there?
You can fly into the TFR with coordination with ATC. Please read through the TFR for guidance.
You cannot fly into Houston due to current TFR that exists for all recovery traffic.
This is only partically true. The TFR allows flights into and out of the area with coordination with ATC. Do not be discouraged from helping PnP due to the TFR.
This might not be true. There is a number to call to get details.
Thr restrictions are for all general aviation, not just rescue flights. But it looks like you can fly with a filed IFR flight plan.
Don’t post negative crap. There is certainly airports outside of the TFR where these puppies can be picked up and surely the organizations would get them there. They always have accommodated me when I’ve taken their dogs. I’ve flown as much as twelve at one time and that’s in a bonanza. Get out there and help please, it’s a long weekend and no other plans are worth more that helping either animals or humans in need due to this disaster.
Wonderful organization that I help all I can. Gives one a lot of pleasure to help these pets get to a no kill shelter or a final home to be someone’s pet.