Welcome to the IANRP website!

If this is your first visit to our site, we are an international community of natural resource aviation professionals, both public and commercial, that exists to promote and recognize the importance of sound aviation practices in natural resource management, with safety as the paramount factor.

Aircraft operations are used in natural resource work because they can greatly reduce costs over what it would cost to accomplish the same task in any other way, or the task can only be accomplish from the air.

Thanks to Mike Vivion for a great 2007 IANRP workshop!  As I reflect on our 2007 workshop, what stands out to me is the incredible opportunity to share ideas, form friendships with and learn from people that are very experienced in our field.  I was very glad to see natural resource aviation students from the University of Minnesota Crookston attend and take part.  I encourage this and hope to see more NR students attend in future years.

We are looking forward the coming year and our annual workshop.  Mark your calendars for September 15, 16, and 17, 2008 as we have selected the scenic and historic port city of Duluth, Minnesota as our workshop site this year.  This is a Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, a bit of a different format from previous years.  The workshop will be held at the beautiful Inn on Lake Superior, located on Canal Park and the harbor of Lake Superior.  For those of you not familiar with Duluth, it is served by an international airport (DLH) and a general aviation airport/seaplane base nearby (KDYT).  Room rates are reasonable. For online hotel information, go to: http://www.theinnonlakesuperior.com  We have booked a block of rooms and will be having our meetings in the hotel conference area attached to the facility.  The hotel offers a breakfast buffet at no cost each morning.  There are ample restaurants within walking distance for other meals off site.

Duluth is an eclectic city which is diverse in culture and activities.  I encourage you to bring your spouses, significant others and children along as there are multiple opportunities to shop, visit local museums and tour sites such as the Glensheen Mansion, Fitger’s Brewery, Bongs Air Museum, the Coast Guard museum, the Aquarium, and the Irvin steel ship along with participating in a harbor cruise.  If family members are planning on attending, we can set up specific tours for those interested. 

The workshop schedule and training topics and activities are in the early planning stages at this writing, but rest assured that they will include subjects and issues relevant to the safety and effectiveness of our natural resource aviation operations, new and time proven technology and methods, and survival.  A tour of the Cirrus Aircraft factory is also planned.  The schedule will be posted on our website as soon as it’s finalized.

I am seeking assistance from any members who wish to take part in this year’s workshop planning.  Send me an e-mail or give me a call if you’d like to help out or if you have a suggestion.

Fly safe and see you in Duluth in September!

Tom