Flying with the dog: funny but serious

[Ed_Wischmeyer]

From NASA ASRS: I departed this morning on a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) flight plan, and my intention was to maintain 1,400 feet until [laterally] clear of [Class] B airspace, which would keep me clear of the Flight Restricted Zone and all [Class] B airspace. At approximately 1,200 feet in my climb, my dog, which had been harnessed in the back seat, leapt into the front passenger seat. In doing so, he hit the dash, somehow managing to clear my flight plan out of my Garmin 430. He pulled my GDL 39 out of the cigarette lighter (my backup navigation), he knocked my tablet (also my backup navigation) onto the passenger side floor, and he ripped the microphone port of my headset out at the connector. I didn?t initially realize that had happened, and I could still hear the radio because the listening port was still plugged in. In trying to keep my dog off of the controls, and flipping the autopilot off to hand-fly, I inadvertently made a climbing turn to 2,200 feet and may have broken into Class B airspace. Upon recognizing this, I immediately descended and made my initial radio call to Potomac. At the time, I thought they had acknowledged my call, but in retrospect, I don?t think they did. A few minutes later as I was still trying to re-trim the airplane, Potomac was trying to reach me, and it was clear to me they couldn?t hear me. It was at this point that I realized my microphone port had been unplugged, and the cord was now wrapped around my 50 pound dog, which was dead weight on top of it. I finally freed the cord and made contact with Potomac. In doing so, my concentration was broken, and when I looked at my position, I was either in or very close to violating the FRZ. I immediately turned around and again made contact with Potomac. At this point forward I stayed clear of Bravo and the FRZ.

[fixnflyguy]

Similar story of distraction, different situation...lesson learned. A few years ago, I had bright idea to take a girlfriend and small mini dachshund for a ride in my 46' T-Craft. Hot, bumpy summer day..climbing for cool air, dog starts looking a little woozy, then hurls about 3 days of everything all over the place, which makes girlfriend equally as sick, she hurls out window, now pilot AKA me, is on verge of blowing cookies due to extreme visual and smelly observations. I immediately put the old T bucket into left hard slip to get fresh air in my window and return to my home strip. Notes taken, lessons learned. Done with that!!

[Desert Rat]

This reminds me of an article I read. I think maybe it was 'I learned about flying from that" in flying magazine?

It was about guy who had a cat in a t-craft or cub or something low and slow. The cat went berserk and he chucked it out over a lake, with associated injuries due to the cat objecting.

Cat survived, he needed a lot of band-aides.

Glad this had a happy ending, and thanks for sharing.

[Bavafa]

Not a very effective harness I guess, glad you are both OK though.

[dlloyd3]

Several years ago we took our 15 pound mixed terrier with us to New Mexico in the RV7. After he calmed down and went to sleep on Penny's lap, all was good. Every now and then he would rouse, stretch and push the stick forward with force. Keep him wide awake on short final!

[Ian Coates]

Tragic accident in IOWA in 2017 where a very similar story unfolded.

[David Paule]

Had a dog few years ago, now gone, unfortunately. I never took him flying. I figured that the possible bad things considerably outweighed the possible good things.

Kind of sorry now, though. Once he'd matured he probably would have been fine.

Dave

[daniel_hagan]

Mine flew well ... she passed away this summer. She *HAD* to ride shotgun ... I was flying a Tiger before and she'd "cold nose goose" your right hip by slightly lifting your shirt if you had her in the rear ... awfullly cold nose!

Worse I had with her was her going after a rabbit chasing it from the T-hangars to the runway ... I had to jump in the truck to go get her.

[Girraf]

Took our dog flying for the first time a few months ago in my cherokee. He is quite spastic (Australian Shepherd), but with my wife sitting in the back seat holding him, he did just fine. Wasn't long before the drone of cruising lulled him to close his eyes. I would never have considered this solo, especially not without securing him. We've done this a few more times since then and results are consistent. Thankfully he doesn't get motion sick and is eager to hop in the airplane!

[moosepileit]

I think this covers it...
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