AGL has resumed an aeromagnetic survey of the Gloucester basin just over a week after the airship conducting the survey crashed.
AGL has resumed an aerial survey of the Gloucester valley just over a week after the unmanned blimp conducting the survey crashed.
An AGL spokeswoman said AGL and its sub-contractor Shift Geophysics had re-launched the aeromagnetic survey yesterday (Tuesday).
"The survey was placed on hold after the airship was forced to land after an equipment malfunction resulted from a broken cable," the spokeswoman said.
"A full investigation was conducted and modifications were made involving the replacement and strengthening of all cables.
"Shift Geophysics (ran) a short test flight in the Gloucester Tops Rd area prior to re-commencing flying the aeromagnetic survey lines.
"The survey will (now) progress to the north towards Gloucester, subject to normal weather constraints."
AGL said the remote controlled airship owned by Shift Geophysics experienced an equipment malfunction while flying over a rural property near Wenham Cox Rd at Stratford.
The airship pilot was forced to land the blimp in a paddock, but not before it became entangled in a tree.
The blimp suffered some minor damage in the crash and requires repair.
The property where the accident occurred is owned by AGL and there were no residences or livestock in the vicinity.
A spokeswoman for AGL said the company had received two complaints about the airship since the survey was announced, both of which had been referred to the Department of Primary Industries.
The blimp is the first unmanned airship to be used in a geophysics capacity anywhere in the world.
Shift Geophysics, the company that owns and operates the blimp, is a West Australian business that was established in 2010.
Shift started flying aerial surveillance missions in late 2011, primarily working for mining companies looking for gold and uranium.
The AGL assignment was Shift’s first job in NSW and first working for a company exploring for coal seam gas.