Health & Safety
Comprehensive health and safety training allows our staff to serve your airborne surveying needs efficiently
Safety is first and foremost at Geotech and is always a primary consideration on any airborne surveying project we undertake. We are proud of our commitment to safety and safety training, such as having all field personnel trained in First Aid Certification, Petroleum Safety Training, WHMIS, and Dangerous Goods. Since 1981 our dedication to safety has enabled us to compile countless line kilometers of high-resolution geophysical survey data, while maintaining the most stringent of safety procedures.
Our aviation division owns and operates a fleet that consists of 14 Eurocopter AS 350 B-3’s, 1 AW 119-Ke (Koala), and 3 Cessna Grand Caravans. Our flight crews are highly trained and experienced, and have successfully completed all safety courses related to the aircraft they fly for airborne surveys. The flight crews, together with our dedicated field crews and operations staff, all continually strive to meet or exceed our commitment to safety.
Listed below are excerpts of safety policies and procedures taken from our own Aviation Safety Management System; Health, Safety, & Environment Manual; as well as the IAGSA Safety Manual. Geotech is a founding member, in good standing, of the International Airborne Geophysical Safety Association, and as such adheres to the policies found in their manual.
Flight Operations
Risk Analysis
An aircraft Risk Analysis document is prepared prior to beginning an airborne survey project using guidelines from our Safety Management System and the IAGSA Safety Manual. The Risk Analysis report examines aircraft type and capabilities, terrain, altitudes, power lines, expected weather conditions and any other factors which may affect the safe completion of the project. All aspects regarding safety are examined, and the Risk Analysis report is reviewed by flight crews, field crews and operations staff before the project is allowed to progress.
Flight Following & Planning
Before commencing a project, flight crews and field crews review all procedures thoroughly with respect to flight following and Search & Rescue that pertains to the survey area. Field crews rely on our various monitoring capabilities to assist them in flight following, which include GPS tracking and direct communications with the flight crew.
Flight Rules
All airborne survey operations are flown using Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and only during daylight hours, as per industry standards.
Maintenance
Our rotary and fixed wing aircraft are maintained at company owned facilities located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada as well as in the field by our skilled maintenance personnel.