Civil Air Patrol Keeps Eye on Vermont’s Forrests

Eagle Times Staff
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Vermont Wing of the Civil Air Patrol is collaborating with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation to monitor forest health in Vermont.

Flying from Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, Civil Air Patrol mission pilot Capt. Anthony Derderian enabled Forests, Parks and Recreation to survey the entire state and identify areas of forest disturbance. These disturbances include defoliation by forest pests, areas of tree mortality and forest damage due to weather events.

Derderian is a member Burlington Senior Squadron (VT-002) based at the airport. Vermont Wing Director of Operations Capt. John Compo supervises the Cessna 182 missions.

“These missions have afforded our department the ability to quickly, and cost efficiently, monitor Vermont’s forests,” said Forest Health Program Manager Joshua Halman.

“This past summer, we paid particular attention to assessing any damage done by the late spring frost, flooding and past infestations of the spongy moth caterpillar, a particular threat to Vermont’s forests. Data on disturbances caused by other threats, as well as effects of abiotic factors, were also collected.”

The Civil Air Patrol is the official volunteer auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Vermont Wing headquarters is located in South Burlington. Squadrons are in South Burlington, Barre/Montpelier, Rutland, Bennington and Springfield.

The CAP cadet program is a year-round program where cadets fly, learn to lead, hike, camp, get in shape and push themselves to new limits. If you are dreaming about a career in aviation, space, or the military, the cadet program is for you. To become a cadet, you must be 12. Vermont cadets have opportunities to attend leadership encampments, career academies, and other activities during the summer.

Vermont Wing members actively work with local schools and other community organizations by promoting aerospace education instruction, materials, and programming and arranging field trips to local airports, aerospace companies, and organizations.

The Vermont Wing provides search and rescue and disaster relief missions, and other support, for many local and federal agencies.