weather phenomena such as
cyclones or imminent f lood. Such
moves are only to be followed
by a return to where the crew
left off and continue the survey
until completion.
For many this existence is all
about the traveling, variety, the
f lying, and their vast distance
from the droll nine-to-five
existence of their urban-based
friends and acquaintances.
However, from the perspective of
the survey companies and their
clients, it is all about the data.
Good quality data is king within
the highly competitive world of
airborne geophysical survey. If a
pilot is reliable and consistently
produces good quality data, their
ticket to that travelling, variety
and f lying is firmly guaranteed
well into the future.
In parallel with agricultural
operations and other airborne
application disciplines, the
successful survey pilots are those
who recognise that the skill set
required of them reaches far
beyond that of just the f lying.
The skill set involved with
the safe operation of aircraft
within the low-level environment
should be second nature to
the experienced low-level pilot
regardless of the application
being attempted. The secret to
the collection of high quality
geophysical data is the recognition
that the aircraft itself is in fact an
instrument configured for that
purpose and its operation should
be managed accordingly.
There is of course a firm culture
of safety within the airborne
geophysical survey fraternity. As
active affiliates of the modern
resources industry, all airborne
geophysical survey operators are
subject to rigorous auditing by
client entities and their contracted
agents. Mere compliance with
the aviation regulations and
state HSE requirements is not
sufficient to survive against the high
expectations of such clients as Shell,australianflying.com.au 43
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To the right candidates, airbornegeophysical survey operations
represent a great deal more
that just a handy stepping stone
towards other aviation pursuits.
Survey f lying is rewarding to the
committed pilot on so many levels.
Financial, vocational, and social
goals are all readily achievable by
those who are prepared to travel,
f ly, and then travel some more.By necessity, working for mining industry customers can have
you operating from remote aerodromes all over Australia.