An Eclectic Mind

Web site and blog for Maria Langer, freelance writer and commercial helicopter pilot.


Random image #1Random image #2Random image #3

Geomagnetic Survey by Helicopter

Posted on August 28, 2007 at 2:02 pm by Maria Langer ·
Filed in: RSS Days in My Life   RSS Flying   
Tagged:

Helicopter with Long LineWeird things flying around Wickenburg.

No, this isn’t me. It’s an A-Star helicopter (I think) belonging to Prism Helicopters. Its pilot and observer are using the device dangling from it to survey the area for minerals.

I believe they said it was geomagnetic, but I could be wrong. I wasn’t listening very hard. I think there will be coverage in the local paper this week.

The device weighs 1,000 pounds and it’s at the end of a standard long line. The pilot cruises at about 50 knots in a standard search pattern over the desert. Although they weren’t specific on what they were looking for, they may be looking for uranium, since that’s the rumor going around the Williams area when the same helicopter was there several months ago.

This photo was shot shortly after takeoff from Wickenburg Airport, where the pilots refuel. The pilot flew straight up until the rope was taut, then slowly gained altitude, lifting it off the ground.

The helicopter was working south of Wickenburg last week and may be working to the west this week.

Print This Post  • Read 1145 Times
Add to deliciousAdd to delicious • Technorati ThisTechnorati This • Digg ThisDigg This • Stumble ItStumble it! • Twit ThisTwit This


 

 

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Linda Webb // Aug 31, 2007 at 6:29 am

    Good grief, are they planning to turn the whole state into a uranium mine!

  • 2 Maria Langer // Aug 31, 2007 at 8:28 am

    I hope not.

    Believe it or not, it was the same helicopter and pilot that was up at the mesa.

Leave a Comment

We welcome comments from readers. Just remember that all comments are moderated and we have zero tolerance for spam. Learn more about our comment policy.

(required; does not display)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

If you have a Gravatar, it will appear beside your approved comment.
No Gravatar? Get one free!