Low-flying airplane mapping parts of northwestern California

An airplane operated under contract to the U.S. Geological Survey will be making low-level flights to map parts of northwestern California for about a month starting around August 21, 2024.

The survey area includes the cities and towns along the coast from approximately Humboldt Bay in the south to Crescent City in the north. Flights will cover the towns of Eureka, McKinleyville, and Crescent City with the purpose of collecting and recording geologic measurements. The survey also includes Redwood National and State Parks, as well as eight Tribal Land Areas.

Anyone observing the low-flying plane should not be alarmed. The contractor will be following all guidelines established by the Federal Aviation Administration, and the aircraft will be operated by experienced pilots, specially trained for low-level flying.

This airborne survey is designed to remotely study the geologic units that lie below the land surface. It is part of an ongoing USGS program to identify hidden features such as changes in rock types, ultimately providing a better understanding of the geology of the area for the purpose of regional earthquake and tsunami hazard assessments.

The survey will be conducted by the Yurok Tribe's Condor Aviation in partnership with Xcalibur Multiphysics. The airplane is operated by Xcalibur Multiphysics out of Ontario Canada, which is working with the FAA to ensure flights are safe and in accordance with U.S. law.

The Yurok Tribe has worked in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey to obtain permission to fly over Tribal Lands in the survey area.