Flights will cover areas within northwest and southeast Louisiana, central and southwest Mississippi, and southern Illinois. Initially, the flights will be based out of Greenwood Mississippi and eventually progress to Jackson, Mississippi, Gonzales and Shreveport Louisiana, and Harrisburg, Illinois. The flights could shift with little warning to other parts of the survey area due to adverse flying conditions.
This online map shows the approximate location of planned flight lines along with areas completed during past surveys. The latest portion of this survey will provide images that expand the fundamental knowledge of geology and hydrology underpinning northwest and southeast Louisiana, central and southwest Mississippi, and southern Illinois.
The new geophysical data will be processed to develop high-resolution three-dimensional representations of geology and aquifer structure to depths up to about 1,000 feet below the surface. The survey will use an airplane equipped with a towed “bird” that is deployed about 400 feet (120 meters) behind the airplane when in flight. Instruments in the bird and inside the cabin will measure variations in the Earth’s electrical properties, magnetic field, and natural low-level gamma energy created by different rock types.
The airplane will fly along pre-planned fight paths relatively low to the ground at about 400 feet (120 meters) above the surface. The ground clearance will be increased to 1,000 feet (300+ meters) over populated areas and will comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
The scientific instruments on the airplane create no emissions that pose a risk to humans, animals, or plant life. No photography or video data will be collected. The data collected will be made freely available to the public once complete. The aircraft will be flown by experienced pilots who are specially trained and approved for low-level flying. The company works with the FAA to ensure flights are safe and in accordance with U.S. law. The surveys will be conducted during daylight hours only.