Documenting transmission line’s impact on the land

Earlier this month, LightHawk took to the sky with conservation partner Archeology Southwest. The flight aimed to assess the SunZia transmission line and document its impacts on cultural and natural resources. Volunteer pilot Michael Schroeder provided the flight for seven passengers to gain an aerial perspective on the issue.

The transmission line construction runs right through the San Pedro Valley in Arizona, considered one of the most culturally intact landscapes in Southern Arizona. The area is home to 12,000 years of human history. Those in opposition to the transmission line project believe it would be better routed through power line corridors that already exist rather than going through the San Pedro River Valley.

The flight took off from Ryan Airfield in Tucson, Arizona and flew up the San Pedro Valley along the SunZia transmission line before returning south via the San Pedro River. Along the way, passengers were able to view the project and gain a greater understanding of its impacts on the land. They also collected photos in support of future media coverage.

Kai Staats, a photographer on the flight, commented, “The total experience was professional, safe, and expertly conducted. The pilot gave us great confidence, and was able to guide the craft where we needed for the best photographs.”

Reporter Paul Ingram from the Tucson Sentinel said, “Tucson Sentinel has covered the SunZia transmission line project, but we’ve been reliant on imagery from the Center of Biological Diversity. Being able to obtain our own photos and review the project at the altitude and speed of our flight will make for better coverage. We could throw a drone up to see a few sites, but getting the scope of the project across the San Pedro Valley wouldn’t have been possible.”

Thanks to volunteer pilot Michael Schroeder for providing the flight for Archeology Southwest.