Page 6 - Volume 12 Number 12

in 2008 and says the reason he got back into aviation was that he had a hangar that was only storing a motor home and he wanted to visit his grown children and grandchildren who were living in different areas of the country.
Schroeder went back to a King Air and bought the 1982 B100 model. The biggest difference for him was the updated avionics – the CJ he flew last had dual BendixKing KLN 90s – and he struggled with the Garmin 430/530s. He ended up replacing the Garmins with dual 750s and upgraded the transponders with ADS-B and a new audio panel. He says he uses the 750s with his iPad® for the extras.
Flying for personal use now, Schroeder flies his B100 on various trips with friends, for board member meetings at EchoStar (whose sister company is Dish Network) and he also donates his time, aircraft and piloting to charity, which he finds rewarding. Schroeder currently flies for LightHawk and Veterans Airlift Command (VAC), two charities he feels a connection with.
He got acquainted with LightHawk when the organization had a function in Sedona. He learned that it focuses on conservation efforts throughout North America and focuses especially on landscapes and wildlife. “If there are opportunities to get two parties with different opinions on the environment or a piece
ALbout LightHawk:
ightHawk is a non-partisan conservation organization
that uses aviation to make a significant difference in important conservation initiatives. It partners with leading conservation groups to tackle the environment’s most critical issues, landscapes and wildlife.
The organization was founded by bush pilot Michael Stewart in 1979 and began with a single mission to assist activists in stopping the proposed building of a coal-fired power plant on the edge of the Grand Canyon which they felt would ruin the views of the national park. Today, it has more than 280 volunteer pilots whose flights “foster dialogue and build consensus, promote informed decision-making, and increase the efficiency and effectiveness” of the organization’s conservation partners’ work.
A Need for King Airs
LightHawk said it would love to have more King Airs for their missions in conservation, as well as transporting endangered species. On conservation flights, the aircraft “would be helpful when flying decision makers (senators, cabinet members, investors) over proposed conservation projects or developments. The view from the air really paints a full picture of how
the landscape will be impacted and can better shape their decisions.”
A volunteer pilot willing to fly their King Air for trans- porting endangered species would allow more animals to be moved in one airplane and streamline the transportation process. Oftentimes, there is only room for one animal crate in aircraft, due to its size. LightHawk has trans- ported endangered Mexican Wolves and California Con- dors, and ferried river otters, red pandas and cougar cubs.
LightHawk requires that volunteer pilots have 1,000 or more PIC (pilot in command) hours. Those interested can fill out a pilot application at www.lighthawk.org/get- involved/volunteer.
An endangered Mexican
Wolf from California being
transported to Missouri,
where there was a wolf
with a good genetic
match for mating that
helps increase the genetic
diversity of the population.
A direct ight reduces
travel time and stress.
(Photo courtesy of the Endangered Wolf Center/Aerial support by LightHawk)
4 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2018
Schroeder uses his current King Air B100 for personal trips – vacations, visiting his children and attending board meetings – and also volunteers his to y for nonpro ts.