Email: gavin@findlostaircraft.co.nz

NEW ZEALAND

P: +646 222 6322

E: support@getgecko.nz

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Update 11th May 2015

As a result of our forth-coming 2015 search in the Lake Moeraki area for ZK-EBU,  I developed a new method (to our little team at least) of conducting a ground search, basically based on the same method I developed for my aerial search for ZK-HNW way back on the 23rd December 2009, and in that instance I found it quite accurate and successful.

This is how I went about it:

Identify the area you would like to search in Google Earth by using the measuring tool in “path” mode, drawing around the circumference of the area and then saving it to a file - naming the file to whatever you wish - in this case “No.1 Search Perimeter”.

By using the measuring tool again and starting in the corner you wish to start the search from, measure off the distances you would like the search lines to be apart. In this instance I used 60 feet apart as we were in dense bush and allowing for two people per GPS (using one person out to the side of the GPS bearer), I felt this would give reasonable coverage. In less dense bush, you could use greater distances, or in this case we found it was just easier to miss a line out... Dependant on what you actually observed at the time of actually being there. In this case I placed and numbered a “Placemark” at the beginning and end of each 60 ft marked, allowing for the numbering to follow in the order and direction you wished to travel in.

Note:   Keep the numbering direction transversing along the side of hills as you don’t want to spend all your time and energy climbing and descending. Better to go across a face than up and down it! Keep the numbering as you would like to walk it. The yellow grid lines shown in what was Search Area No.3 are an example of that.

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