Pilots to the Rescue founder Michael Schneider turns a decade of passion into thousands of lives saved.
Inspired by a lifelong love of helping animals, Michael Schneider founded Pilots to the Rescue in 2015. As a child, he rehabilitated injured birds, adopted shelter pets, and ran a small pet‑sitting business.
Pilots to the Rescue (PTTR)
Saving at-risk animals
Kodiak 100 (donor-funded acquisition)
Long-distance animal rescue flights
A skydiving birthday experience unexpectedly introduced Michael Schneider to aviation. After a few jumps, he became more interested in the airplane than the freefall, took a discovery flight, and quickly earned his private pilot certificate. In the New York area, he joined local flying clubs and discovered organizations using general aviation for humanitarian missions. When he learned about pilots rescuing animals from overcrowded Southern shelters, the idea clicked: his two passions could become one mission.
Shelters in the southern U.S. often face warmer climates, year‑round strays, and limited spay/neuter programs. Many are overcrowded municipal facilities. Pilots to the Rescue moves animals north, where they have significantly higher adoption rates.
Pilots to the Rescue began with Piper PA‑32s, flying them nearly 500 hours per year – far beyond what aging piston aircraft were built to handle. Maintenance and reliability became persistent challenges.
A major donor enabled the search for a turboprop upgrade. While the Cessna Caravan was the initial assumption, the Kodiak 100 offered major advantages: a newer airframe, strong safety features, lower acquisition cost, and a better fit for the Pilots to the Rescue mission. The organization purchased the Kodiak outright, funded by the donor and the sale of its PA‑32 fleet.
Today, the aircraft operates from a compact T‑hangar in Caldwell, which doubles as storage for rescue supplies.
Pilots to the Rescue has surpassed the 7,000-animals saved milestone, with no signs of slowing down. For Michael Schneider, the work is both a purpose and a privilege, combining aviation skill with life‑saving impact.
