Private jet operator HansJet has trained all its Pilatus PC-12 pilots to serve as certified pet care specialists during flights with customers’ pets. The European specialist confirmed that every pilot completed comprehensive pet aviation safety training through ‘Pets On Jets’, a program tailored for aviation professionals.
The training covers seven core disciplines, including animal handling across species, creating stress-free environments, reading body language, restraint techniques, and monitoring vital parameters like heart rate and respiration. Pilots also learned first aid such as CPR, emergency animal handling, and medication administration.
Spearheaded by Dr. Sebastian Gehrig, a veterinarian and EASA/FAA airline transport pilot, the certification raises animal welfare standards in European private aviation. HansJet, based in Malta, allows dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and reptiles on board with no size or weight limits, providing beds, blankets, gourmet treats, and safety harnesses.
HansJet figures indicate 37% of families now travel with pets, up 19% over the past decade, and 38% of private jet travelers plan pet flights within the next year. Eric Weisskopf, Managing Director, stated on February 24, 2026: ‘When a member’s French Bulldog boards one of our aircraft, our pilots can recognize signs of respiratory distress. When an anxious rescue dog takes its first flight, our crew know how to create a calm environment.’
Weisskopf added: ‘Our members’ travel decisions increasingly revolve around their companions, and they deserve to know that their crew aren’t simply pet-friendly – they’re pet-qualified.’