Author Topic: So what's going on here? (Read 2761 times)

Jurek · « **on:** 11 April, 2020, 11:24:15 am »

This has been overflying my house for the last couple of hours.

A bit of investigative reveals that Bioflight are in the business of 'Aerial data Acquisition' - for which I read 'surveys'.
Anyone care to guess what they're surveying here?

Or are they simply taking advantage of the fact that there's close to zero air traffic currently over London.

ETA - I've guesstimated that so far, excluding the flight down from East Midlands Airport,
his air miles are approaching 500 - which is close to half of the aircraft's range capability.

Salvatore · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 April, 2020, 11:36:28 am »

I noticed several of these yesterday, 2 over London (1 E-W and 1 N-S), one over Bournmouth-ish, and 1 over SW France.

I wonder if they are no more common now than previously, just more noticeable because little else is flying.

citoyen · « **Reply #2 on:** 11 April, 2020, 11:36:40 am »

Expect a leaflet through your door soon offering EXCLUSIVE! aerial photographs of your house? Yours for £29.99, or £89.99 in this beautiful gilt frame.

Davef · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 April, 2020, 11:40:35 am »

Is it more likely just updating “satellite” images for google maps or one of their competitors.

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grams · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 April, 2020, 11:42:17 am »

Online mapping "satellite" views are generally taken from low-flying planes like this rather than anything in orbit.

Apple (and probably others) also have 3D aerial maps where you can view buildings from any side, which must require a *lot* of close spaced passes.

andrewc · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 April, 2020, 11:46:17 am »

Some discussion here. https://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/630905-whats-guy-up-morning-north-london-2.html

Probably seeing which areas will need to be demolished for the planned Hyperspace Bypass. What do you mean you haven't seen the plans.......... ?

Jurek · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 April, 2020, 11:54:43 am »

Having completed the best part of a CDC, it looks like he's going home for lunch

Jurek · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 April, 2020, 12:21:09 pm »

No sooner has he gone, and someone else starts doing something similar over West London.

Diver300 · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 April, 2020, 12:32:17 pm »

The reduced traffic pollution might be a reason to do the photography now, although the haziness seen when the pollution is bad is viewed horizontally through miles of air, while the aircraft is photographing downwards at a shorter distance.

Fewer cars on the roads may be an advantage as the views won't capture traffic jams and show them as permanent.

Jurek · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 April, 2020, 12:45:47 pm »

Now we have a helicopter hovering overhead.
But that's because police and South London.

Salvatore · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 April, 2020, 01:58:29 pm »

Something similar near Nantes currently. Wider spaced but higher.

hellymedic · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 April, 2020, 02:19:26 pm »

Quote from: Davef on 11 April, 2020, 11:40:35 am

Is it more likely just updating “satellite” images for google maps or one of their competitors.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Those were my thoughts too.

andrewc · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 April, 2020, 09:24:22 pm »

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/bizarre-flight-path-over-liverpool-18091749

They're everywhere. Plotting where to install the 5G towers for maximum destructive effect...

Pingu · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 April, 2020, 10:34:01 pm »

And this pair earlier today over the North Sea.

fr24_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

fr24_02 by The Pingus, on Flickr

FifeingEejit · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 April, 2020, 11:06:20 pm »

Can't find that now FA20x appears to be Safari flights between the Cape and jo'burg

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Jaded · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 April, 2020, 11:46:32 pm »

I’ve flown in a loop off Aberdeen for about four hours...

jiberjaber · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 April, 2020, 12:38:51 am »

Quote from: Pingu on 14 April, 2020, 10:34:01 pm

And this pair earlier today over the North Sea.

fr24_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

fr24_02 by The Pingus, on Flickr

Possibly they are the Chobbam Aviation guys - the play with the RAF often to provide targets and training opportunities...

https://www.cobham.com/aviation-services-uk/special-mission/operational-readiness-training/

Jurek · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 April, 2020, 03:28:21 pm »

Busy over LHR a couple of hours ago

Jaded · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 April, 2020, 03:34:49 pm »

matthew · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 April, 2020, 10:10:51 am »

Quote from: Jurek on 11 April, 2020, 11:54:43 am

Having completed the best part of a CDC, it looks like he's going home for lunch

My guess would be either aerial photography or LIDAR survey. Given the flight path in the OP I suspect LIDAR of the Lower Thames potentially as part of the Thames 2100 strategy from the EA flood management team.

Salvatore · « **Reply #20 on:** 16 April, 2020, 11:02:31 am »

This morning: Lancashire.

Pingu · « **Reply #21 on:** 26 April, 2020, 03:22:29 pm »

Loads of gliders over Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia just now.

matthew · « **Reply #22 on:** 28 April, 2020, 04:44:41 pm »

One pilot out of my local airfield has got in trouble. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-52444813 He was only supposed to go 10 NM from the airfield for an engine maintenance flight.

Jurek · « **Reply #23 on:** 28 April, 2020, 06:06:58 pm »

Quote from: matthew on 28 April, 2020, 04:44:41 pm

One pilot out of my local airfield has got in trouble. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-52444813 He was only supposed to go 10 NM from the airfield for an engine maintenance flight.