Three Questions Miners Must Ask Themselves When It Comes to Aviation
Written by Mike Pawluk at Matrix Aviation Management
When we think of mining and exploration, we tend to think of busy project sites, environmental assessments, and strategic partnerships. Rarely do we think about the aviation component, and even less so the pilots who must navigate through harsh and remote areas, dealing with extreme weather conditions to transport the vital people and equipment required for mining and exploration projects.
Like in personal air travel, pilots are often only noticed when they’re unexpectedly not available. But in a world where miners are under pressure to meet surging demand for critical minerals amid inflation and rising competition, aviation has become an increasingly crucial element for successful mining and exploration operations.
To non-aviators, planning for aviation can seem deceptively easy – figure out the people and equipment required and make sure an aircraft is booked to transport them. But determining how many aircraft and pilots are needed for a particular project is more than just a budget and scheduling issue. It requires comprehensive business planning, and a deep understanding of the role aviation itself and the role it is required to play for a mining or exploration project to succeed.
Based on experience working with mining and exploration companies, achieving successful aviation operations comes down to asking three important questions.
Do I understand the risk involved?
At the outset of any project, mining and exploration companies must make an important decision: whether to source pilots and operators on their own or work with an experienced consultant.
It can be tempting for project managers to take a do-it-yourself approach. But aviation in the context of mining and exploration is complex and involves many decisions that may not be obvious to those who sit outside the industry. First and foremost is the risk involved.
Aviation in remote conditions is risky enough for seasoned pilots, let alone for those who lack adequate experience. Pilot training and certification is a rigorous process that emphasizes experience and safety. Securing the right pilot based on what they are comfortable doing on the one hand and what they are certified to do on another is critical.
Consider also that sourcing pilots and operators means owning the entire aviation process, including handling everything from ensuring fuel is available at a remote site to having to replace a pilot who is suddenly unavailable.
A do-it-yourself approach comes with cost implications. A mishap can affect insurance rates and raises questions of corporate liability and long-term reputational risk. It pays to thoroughly analyze aviation needs and potential risks at the outset of any project or work with an experienced aviation consultant who understands them.
Do I truly understand what I need pilots to do?
It’s obvious to most people attempting to move a piece of furniture that a transport truck is overkill, and a passenger car trunk is not enough. This kind of knowledge becomes far less clear when it comes to aviation. A mining engineer may not know the specific kind of aircraft needed to move a 10,000-pound piece of equipment, and so fails to ask the right questions. They may not also be aware that a pilot who arrives on site without the right equipment or experience to do a task won’t be able to do the job until someone can arrive on site, resulting in delays and adding more complexity to projects.
The question is whether a mining or exploration company needs an aircraft and a pilot to fly it or a permanent aviation solution that considers all the cost, logistical and last-minute complexities that miners and explorers must be aware of. Given the regulations governing how pilots can operate, and different types of aircraft and pilots are necessary for moving heavy equipment, delivering large quantities of goods, and other tasks, it’s critical to identify the right aviation approach tailored to the needs of a specific site and project.
Am I planning for the unexpected?
As everyone who works in the mining and exploration industry knows all too well, unexpected delays are common. It’s routine for project leads to secure an aircraft and a pilot for a specific time and location, only to find those plans having to change as schedules and scopes evolve. Each time that timeline shifts, it’s on the project lead to either re-book the aircraft or, just as likely, lose that solution altogether and start the search for a new aircraft from scratch.
That can lead to project cost implications and greater uncertainty. Also, be aware that the demand for skilled and qualified pilots is surging, while the actual supply of pilots that possess not only all the skills but the necessary experience and hours, is dwindling. There is an unbalance of supply and demand. The more inexperienced pilots cannot adapt quickly to the typical mining and exploration timelines, at least not without pressure. It’s important to have a back-up plan in place or work with a provider who can accommodate changes in plans and schedules.
No mining or exploration project can succeed without the ability to take resources from one location to another. Project plans are complex enough without taking on needless risk. When planning, aviation needs to consider all the factors and make decisions that will ensure long-term predictability and success.