Minnesota Air Rescue Team trains to save lives across the state
June 12, 2023
A member of the Minnesota Air Rescue Team practices a water rescue with another member of the team.Whether you are lost in the forest, stranded on the top of a water tower or struggling to stay above water, it takes a specialized team to get you safely back on solid ground. In our state, that's the Minnesota Air Rescue Team (MART).
MART is a partnership between our Minnesota State Patrol Aviation Division and the St. Paul Fire Department Advanced Technical Rescue Team. The team gathered at Hidden Valley Park in St. Paul last week for water rescue training.
Local law enforcement call in the team for its specialized skillset and equipment. The team answers about 60 calls per year, working across Minnesota to find people who are lost or rescue anyone who needs help.
St. Paul Fire Capt. Mike Aspnes brings the team together to train three times per month to make sure they are ready for anything, whether it's plucking a lost hiker off a cliffside or picking a swimmer out of the river.
“We're fortunate to have this great partnership with the State Patrol. They bring a skill set to the table and the St. Paul fire fighters bring a skill set to the table. They complement each other so well," Aspnes said. “That's how we get to do what we do and do it as well as we do."
It's a difficult job. The team members practiced dozens of times on Tuesday, making sure each one was prepared every step of the way. Communication is key, with members using head and hand signals to stay in touch with the pilot.
“You just do one rescue, and you realize it's all worth it," State Patrol pilot Jim Englin said.
Englin has been flying for the State Patrol for 19 years. Although he's talking and joking on the ground, he's all business in the helicopter's cockpit. The world goes silent, and all his focus is on the person at the bottom of the line.
“We train hard and when it comes together like this, and you bring someone back and nobody got hurt: There's nothing like that," Englin said.
Aspnes, who works as the rescuer at the end of the line, says the same. Aspnes draws on his training as a paramedic, firefighter and MART member to bring people home alive.
Learn more about MART and our other State Response Teams on the
Department of Public Safety website.
A member of the Minnesota Air Rescue Team brings a pretend victim safely to shore during water rescue training.
