17th MINEX 2021 Mining and Geological Forum

LIGHT AND ULTRALIGHT PLATFORMS. EXPERIENCE IN THEIR USE FOR GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES.
A. A. Trusov
JSC GNPP Aerogeofizika

In recent years, a rapidly developing area of airborne geophysics has involved the use of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ultralight crewed platforms, which in most cases reduce the cost of rapidly assessing the prospectivity of a licence area. Multirotor and fixed-wing UAVs are now widely used, while vertical take-off and landing systems (such as tiltrotors) are less common. Electrically powered platforms are becoming widespread because of their ease of operation; however, UAVs with internal combustion engines or hybrid power systems can substantially increase flight duration. In addition to economic advantages, the use of uncrewed and ultralight crewed aircraft allows more detailed surveys through flights at the minimum safe altitude with close terrain following, maintaining a constant height of the measuring sensors above the ground surface. The choice of aircraft should be determined by the optimal airborne geophysical system capable of addressing the specified geological objectives under the particular geomorphological conditions.