Back in 2021, the Legislature appropriated $5 million to buy frequent luxury flyer Kristi Noem a new-to-us turboprop plane. Now Governor Larry Rhoden is jumping on the bandplane, asking the Legislature for $5 million to buy new wings… not for himself, but for the Highway Patrol:
Governor Rhoden’s recommended budget includes $5 million in one-time funding to replace the South Dakota Highway Patrol’s current aircraft, purchased in 2007, which is no longer reliable or safe for public safety operations.
…The existing aircraft is now 21 years old and has been plagued by mechanical issues that have grounded it during key operations. Recent failures include an alternator, cylinder, and pitot/static malfunction during the Sturgis Rally and Operation: Prairie Thunder, as well as repeated camera system failures, including during the visit of a key dignitary. These problems are compounded by the fact that many parts are on backorder or no longer available, and some maintenance shops are unwilling to service the aircraft due to its age.
The camera system, purchased in 2013, is no longer supported by the manufacturer. The mapping software is unreliable and cannot be repaired. The radio system poses a safety risk, as the pilot must manually switch between air traffic and law enforcement channels, which is especially dangerous during high-stress or night operations. The aircraft’s current configuration also requires low altitude flying to use the camera effectively, increasing risk during armed suspect situations as well as causing interference near our busiest airports in Sioux Falls and Rapid City [Governor’s Office/Bureau of Finance and Management, Budget Topic Brief: Highway Patrol Airplane, 2025.12.02].
We certainly don’t want troopers getting lost aloft or not knowing how fast or how high they are flying. A working plane helps the Highway Patrol get the most out of its new StarChase GPS-tagging system and keep an eye on fugitive bad guys with less dangerous hot pursuit on the roads. With inflation, Rhoden is making a smaller practical ask for an arguably necessary plane now than Noem did to upgrade her non-essential travel five years ago.
Governor Rhoden’s request to get a better plane for the Highway Patrol thus seems more reasonable than his predecessor’s vanity-driven aeronautical cravings.