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Committee considers funding for State Patrol aircraft replacements; lays air‑fleet bill on table for finance
Summary
Senate File 176 would replace and modernize Minnesota State Patrol aircraft (a Bell 429 helicopter and a fixed‑wing Cirrus) to improve rescue and patrol capabilities. The Transportation Committee laid the bill on the table for possible inclusion in a future finance bill.
Senate File 176, presented in the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee on March 5, 2025, would fund modernization of the Minnesota State Patrol air fleet by adding a twin‑engine helicopter (Bell 429) and a newer fixed‑wing airplane (Cirrus) to replace older aircraft. Authors and State Patrol officials said upgraded aircraft would expand rescue capability and improve safety.
Senator Jasinski and co‑sponsors said the Bell 429’s hoist capability and twin‑engine design would enable the patrol to perform hoist rescues and provide a more resilient platform if an engine fails. Lieutenant Craig Benz, chief pilot of the patrol’s air wing, described current operations: with older single‑engine helicopters, the patrol typically uses long‑line or short‑haul techniques that keep the rescued person suspended below the aircraft; the Bell 429 would allow hoist rescues, bringing the rescued person up into the cabin.
Colonel Christina Bogojevic said the patrol’s flight hours have increased 78% over six years and that modernizing the fleet would support mitigation of risky vehicle pursuits, speed enforcement, and search‑and‑rescue work. Senator Lang, a pilot and committee member, spoke in favor of standardizing platforms to simplify training and maintenance and praised the Cirrus as an efficient, commonly used fixed‑wing platform.
Members discussed how aircraft purchases are typically funded and whether the trunk‑highway fund or general fund should pay for certain aviation functions. Committee fiscal staff noted that aircraft acquisitions have been funded through trunk‑highway appropriations in prior years; members asked for clarification of fleet ownership and past practice.
The committee laid Senate File 176, as amended, on the table for possible inclusion in a future finance bill and noted Metro Cities’ letter of support included in the packet.
No final appropriation was adopted in committee; the bill will be considered in finance negotiations.
