Flying Damage-Assessment Flights, Using Satellite-Transmitted Digital Imaging Technology

Members of the Civil Air Patrol's Louisiana Wing have been tasked to assist relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Damage-assessment flights are being flown from mission bases in both Lake Charles, La., and Baton Rouge, La. Louisiana.

Louisiana Wing Commander Col. Rodney Ammons is directing the overall effort from Shreveport, La., and Col. Rock Palermo, incident commander, is managing air and ground operations from the mission base located in Lake Charles.

Wing aircrews are assisting federal agencies by taking aerial photographs of facilities for damage assessment and operational planning. The photographs are also being used to help establish alternate staging areas on the ground as operations are limited at both the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and Lakefront Airport.

One of the wing aircraft flying out of Lake Charles is equipped with satellite-transmitted digital imaging technology, which allows aircrews to take photographs with a digital camera, process them through a laptop computer and transmit them by satellite phone to provide almost real-time data to personnel on the ground.

Louisiana Wing Director of Operations Lt. Col. Arthur Scarbrough and Louisiana Wing Emergency Services Officer Capt. Pat Yglesias are coordinating state and federal agency requests from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge.

The CAP National Operations Center is receiving and approving these requests for assistance.

FMI: www.cap.gov