DNR helicopter/Patrol

[Lee Borgersen]

          DNR helicopter visits Civil Air Patrol squadron.


Members, families and friends of the St. Cloud Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol got an amazing view of natural resources flying when a helicopter and aircrew from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) visited Monday, Aug. 20.

Conservation Officer/Pilot Tom Pfingsten, among the DNR Enforcement Division's seven pilots, said DNR's fixed and rotary wing aircraft provide cost-effective platforms to gather information that no other means can provide.

"One pilot in an aircraft can gather certain information over a large geographical area very quickly, representing a significant savings in time, manpower, vehicles and other resources that would be required if the same information would be collected from the ground," Pfingsten said.

DNR airframes fly natural resources enforcement, research and resource management missions. Their hangars include four Cessna 185s, two American Champion Scouts, an Enstrom 480B helicopter and two Bell OH-58 helicopters.

Pfingsten, whose interest in flying began while growing up near the Crystal Airport and serving in the Marine Corps, has spent the past 26 years as a law enforcement officer, including the last nine with the DNR. Pfingsten earned his private pilot's license 20 years ago and joined the CAP at that time to get more flying time.

"I like to say that the ink on my private pilot's license wasn't even dry when I joined the Crow Wing Squadron in Brainerd. Thanks to the Civil Air Patrol, I was able to earn my pilot instrument and commercial ratings," said Pfingsten, who later learned how to fly helicopters.

Many DNR missions require pilots to fly at slow air speeds and very low altitudes, often well below 500 feet. Pilots must be able to gather and record information, such as the number and species of waterfowl on a water body. While flying this low, pilots must also avoid obstructions, other aircraft, and often communicate by radio with ground personnel or air traffic control.

"DNR pilots keep their attention outside the aircraft, and the pilot's skills must be at a level that allows them to safely operate aircraft in this environment and still accomplish the mission," Pfingsten said.

The assistance of DNR aircraft is important to Conservation Officer (CO) Tim Collette of Pequot Lakes, whose 650-square-mile field station includes Crow Wing County in central Minnesota. COs and CO pilots are fully qualified and licensed Minnesota law enforcement officers.

"CO pilots provide an aerial platform to detect violations and activity for the field conservation officers and directs the officers to these areas by radio," said Collette, who is trained to operate the helicopter's Forward Looking Infrared Imaging system, which is used by the military and law enforcement for surveillance, monitoring, tracking, and search and rescue missions.

Most flying done by CO pilots is resource management "survey and census" missions, locating and counting wildlife from the air, or locating radio-collared wildlife using aerial telemetry. CO pilots also perform search and rescue missions, and enforcing natural resources laws.

"Locating illegal fishing, hunting or other regulated recreational activity from the air would be an example of much of a CO pilot's daytime flying while night flying detects poachers using spotlights to take game," Pfingsten said.

Minnesota's nearly 150 field officers utilize aerial photography to document violations or provide an officer with access information to a given location.

"We are often asked to check certain areas by air to detect and sometimes photograph illegal activity," Pfingsten added.

Angie Steffens, a Civil Air Patrol cadet parent, was among the nearly 60 squadron members, family members and friends to attend the event. She enjoyed Pfingsten's and Collette's presentations. "What they do is unique," she said. "It exposed the cadets in the squadron to something completely different, something they probably weren't aware of as a career option."

1st Lt. Paul Wentler, St. Cloud Squadron's aerospace education officer, agreed. "Definitely good for kids to see different aspects of aviation instead of just military and airline flying. Also, good to show how the Civil Air Patrol can benefit you realizing goals in aviation."

"Very cool and interesting, awesome," said Cadet Chief Master Sgt. John Dvorak, cadet leadership officer. "I want to thank the DNR for providing the experience"