CHARLOTTE -- US Airways hosted a program in Charlotte on Monday that is helping its employees take care of a few very special passengers.

The "Puppies in Flight" program gives US Airways employees who wish to volunteer a chance to travel with a four-legged companion. The dogs they travel with are all training to become special needs assistance dogs.

While they're training, the pups must learn how to adapt to a variety of environments, including airports and airplanes.

A trainer for one nearby nonprofit dog training program, Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services, says the program is a huge benefiaciary. Jennifer Rogers says, the dogs would not get a chance to travel as much on a plane if it wasn't for the program.

"So really our dogs are practicing what their future jobs will be which is to accompany or assist somebody with a disability no matter where they are," added Rogers. "No matter if it's an airplane, a supermarket, a taxi cab. So they really have to practice that while they're in training."

By law, anyone who is disabled and has an assistance dog is permitted to go anywhere considered public, including inside the cabin of a plane.

Rogers says the "Puppies in Flight" program also helps educate the public on animal assistance for the disabled.