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 that uses volunteer pilots and aircraft to conduct aerial surveys and observations for environmental conservation and advocacy groups.
- Founded in 1979, LightHawk's missions range from low-level river surveys to international flights, providing unique perspectives on issues like deforestation and habitat change to inform decision-makers.
- The organization maintains a strong safety culture, requiring highly experienced volunteer pilots (e.g., 1,000+ PIC hours, often with mountain flying experience) who donate their time and cover aircraft operating costs.
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