Airborne Gravity 2010 - Geoscience Australia

Airborne Gravity 2010
Figure 2. (a) Air-FTG data collected using a Grand Caravan, (b) ground gravity data upward
continued to equivalent survey height, and (c) Air-FTG data collected with the airship platform.
The position of a known kimberlite near the centre of the test area is highlighted.
Figure 4 presents a breakdown of activities actually experienced on the project. Productive surveying
was only achieved for 29% of the time that the system was nominally available. In total, the airship
itself was not available for production for 28% of the time. This was primarily due to technical issues
associated with the airship, with a very minor contribution associated with the duty hours of the pilots
and ground crew. The experience of ZLT prior to the commencement of this operation was that the
airship would likely experience 10% downtime due to technical issues. The fulltime process of
operating and mooring the airship outside in a dusty, hot, windy environment was the root cause of the
increased downtime. Had a suitable hangar or shelter been readily available, this would have
protected the airship and would have improved the time required to resolve problems and increased
the effectiveness of the ongoing maintenance and repairs carried out in the field. Additionally the
airship deployed for the program was a pre-production prototype. The use of a later production model,
not available for use during this program, may have improved reliability.
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