Airborne Electromagnetic Survey System with Aerodynamic Frame Segments; and Methods of Surveying using Such

摘要

This invention relates to an airborne electromagnetic survey system configured for geophysical prospecting comprising an aircraft configured to lift and tow via a tow arrangement during survey operation in air in a flight direction and with a flight speed. The system comprises a frame with a frame front section in the flight direction and opposite a frame tail section configured to be lifted and towed by the aircraft via the tow arrangement and to support a transmitter coil configured to transmit an magnetic moment for geophysical prospecting, which frame comprises multiple frame segments each frame segment comprising a first connection and a second connection for connecting to another frame segment, a structural support providing a rigid structure between the first connection and the second connection, and a frame segment surface providing the frame segment with an aerodynamic profile in the flight direction, which aerodynamic profile is configured to provide aerodynamic properties to the frame, so that when towed by the aircraft via the tow arrangement during survey operation in the flight direction, the frame having substantially a fixed frame shape and substantially being in a fixed operational orientation.