If you use electricity, natural gas, oil, or minerals, then you depend upon General Aviation (GA). Airplanes and helicopters are used to help find natural energy reserves using a technique called airborne geophysical surveying. These aircraft are fitted with magnetometers that detect changes deep in the earth, allowing energy and mineral scouts to find hidden deposits.

Oil drilling crews on ocean platforms rely upon helicopters for travel to and from work and for the delivery of supplies or emergency medevac. The same is true for remote land-based drilling sites in the 48 contiguous states and Alaska.

Powerlines and their transmission towers are built using helicopters. Powerlines and oil and gas pipelines are patrolled by low-flying airplanes to check for damage, to provide security against sabotage, and to ensure that no one tries to build within their protected rights-of-way, which would put these energy assets at risk.

In the event of an environmental incident, aircraft and helicopters are used to assess the damage, and to send in emergency response crews to facilitate repairs and cleanup.

Airplanes are used routinely by modern-day prospectors to find minerals. The aircraft are fitted with loops of wire that sense changes in the Earth’s magnetic field.