What to do when you're a college student in Minnesota, and you want to attend a 
professional conference in Idaho? Junior Andrew Rice (right in photo) and Senior Alvin Tong (left in photo) from the University of Minnesota, Crookston didn't let the distance stop them. The two natural resources aviation majors climbed into an airplane and flew to the conference.
The intrepid aviators took to the cockpit of Andrew's father's Piper Tri Pacer flying both to and from Boise, Idaho, to attend the annual Conference and Safety Workshop of the International Association of Natural Resource Pilots during the week of October 1 -5, 2010.
While crystal clear weather and tailwinds favored the two on the trip to Boise, headwinds, thunderstorms, rain, and darkness plagued them on the return trip. They handled it all safely and with aplomb during a trip that provided great real-world experience for these budding professional aviators.
The IANRP is a group of pilots who utilize aircraft in the field of renewable resources. Their aviation specialties are varied and include aircraft use for forestry, wildlife, and fisheries applications, plus enforcement of natural resource regulations. To learn more, visit ianrp.org.
Natural resource aviation is just one of many opportunities for students on the Crookston campus, to learn more about natural resources and other degree programs, visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics.
Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology. With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree. "Small Campus. Big Degree." To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.
professional conference in Idaho? Junior Andrew Rice (right in photo) and Senior Alvin Tong (left in photo) from the University of Minnesota, Crookston didn't let the distance stop them. The two natural resources aviation majors climbed into an airplane and flew to the conference. The intrepid aviators took to the cockpit of Andrew's father's Piper Tri Pacer flying both to and from Boise, Idaho, to attend the annual Conference and Safety Workshop of the International Association of Natural Resource Pilots during the week of October 1 -5, 2010.
While crystal clear weather and tailwinds favored the two on the trip to Boise, headwinds, thunderstorms, rain, and darkness plagued them on the return trip. They handled it all safely and with aplomb during a trip that provided great real-world experience for these budding professional aviators.
The IANRP is a group of pilots who utilize aircraft in the field of renewable resources. Their aviation specialties are varied and include aircraft use for forestry, wildlife, and fisheries applications, plus enforcement of natural resource regulations. To learn more, visit ianrp.org.
Natural resource aviation is just one of many opportunities for students on the Crookston campus, to learn more about natural resources and other degree programs, visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics.
Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology. With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree. "Small Campus. Big Degree." To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.
Contact: : Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218-281-8114 (mvivion@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)
