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Quebec Company Acquires Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Nov. 6, 2007, La Baie, Que. – VISIONAir-UAV located in ‘’La Baie’’ Quebec has just become one of the few civilian companies in North America to own an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).  Their new SR 200 arrived after a waiting period of close to a year.

“Delays for delivery of this type of aircraft can be very long,” explained Michel Audet, general manager of VISIONAir-UAV. “Military forces mainly use this type of equipment.  In Canada, there are only two other SR 200s and the Canadian forces own them both.”

The company offers unique services in the province of Quebec and Canada.  The UAV will be used for multispectral imaging, thermal imaging, and for forestry, agricultural, engineering, electrical and structural inspections.   

Audet, who’s company was founded in September 2006, added that the UAV would be capable of helping in the search for a lost person in the forest except for one thing: Transport Canada currently requires that a request for approval to fly the UAV must be forwarded at least 20 working days prior to the flight. In the case of an emergency, this would obviously not be an option.

The unmanned helicopter was built in the U.S. and bought for the price of $80,000.  With specialized equipment, the UAV weighing 55 pounds, represents a total investment of $250,000.

Currently, VISIONAir-UAV employs four people specializing in geomatics, engineering and computing.  Audet says that the response to his new acquisition has been very positive. The company will soon be undertaking projects all over Quebec.

“A blueberry farm requested detection of freezing plants and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will probably also use our services,” said Audet.   “This winter we also have requests to check electrical lines for connection problems using thermal imaging.
The UAV can photograph an object the size of a pencil tip.