NORWAY – The Western Foothills Land Trust just got a little help from the sky.

The nonprofit organization LightHawk will offer flights over the Roberts Farm land to major donors in the land trust’s effort to raise $279,000 to purchase a 150-acre property.

“I was just so excited,” said Lee Dassler, program coordinator for the trust. “I had no idea that they did this kind of assistance.”

LightHawk utilizes volunteer pilots to allow observers to see an area of land on a large scale as a way of raising awareness for environmental protection or conservation. It has been in service since 1979 and operates in 10 countries in North and South America, according to its Web site.

Dassler said a college friend, who works as a regional coordinator with the organization, informed her that LightHawk might assist with the land trust’s efforts. Dassler then got in contact with Kelley Tucker, the organization’s eastern region coordinator, who agreed to help.

“I always thought it was used for really big projects,” Dassler said of LightHawk. “I never knew they could also help land trusts with fundraising efforts.”

The goals LightHawk lists on its Web site include raising awareness of environmental crimes, improving scientific understanding of land conditions, and increasing support for environmental protection among public officials. However, the site also lists “broader understanding of and support for conservation” as an objective.

The land trust signed a purchase agreement with the Growth Council of Oxford Hills in July to acquire 150 acres of a 161-acre parcel of land originally slated for use as a technology park. Prior to the Growth Council’s purchase of the land, the parcel had belonged to the Roberts family, which operated a dairy farm on site from 1884 to 2000.

The trust put $31,000 toward the purchase at the signing, but needs to raise $279,000 before Sept. 28.

So far, the trust has only raised $8,000 through donations. Dassler says she is applying for more than 20 grants, and is also looking at 0-percent-interest loans to aid the purchase. She is hoping to get $129,000 from grants and $150,000 through donations.

The land trust has created certain levels for donors, with “founders” donating $25,000 or more and “benefactors” donating $10,000 or more. These two levels of donors will be allowed to participate in flights over the land.

Dassler said a volunteer pilot out of Limerick will provide the flights, which she believes will take place from mid-September into early October. She said the pilot may use any local airstrip, and may also touch down at an airport nearer to a donor if they live outside the immediate area.

The service is being provided at no cost to the land trust.

Dassler said the trust has been offering a PowerPoint presentation on the Roberts Farm land to local organizations, and is receiving assistance from Moose Pond Arts and Ecology to raise awareness of the project.