I feel the pull of the Cessna 182’s changing lift vector as I turn to orbit just south and east of KPHL at 500 feet. We’re observing the changes along the New Jersey banks of the Delaware River—a very different “Jersey Shore”—and marking them with a string of photos across the water from the Philadelphia International Airport. At the same time, Philly Tower asks us to stay east of the final approach to Runway 35 for traffic, a landing Embraer 145, and we’re all watching for power lines, cell towers and birds. We brief the emergency bird-avoidance maneuver—if the bird appears motionless and grows larger, pitch up hard because birds tend to dive—and we almost use it.
Flying With LightHawk
Key Takeaways:
- LightHawk is a charitable aviation organization founded in 1979 that utilizes volunteer pilots and donated aircraft to conduct environmental survey missions and raise awareness for conservation efforts globally.
- The organization provides a crucial aerial perspective to inform decision-makers and the public about critical environmental issues, ranging from deforestation in Central America to watershed changes in the United States.
- LightHawk operates with a strong safety culture and a structured program, requiring volunteer pilots to meet rigorous qualifications and often cover their own aircraft costs to participate.
- By offering a unique "human experience" of viewing the Earth from above, LightHawk aims to change hearts and minds, proving that this perspective is invaluable for conservation advocacy and cannot be fully replicated by drones.
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