-Location
Water Survey of Canada requires to secure services from an air charter company, to charter a rotary wing aircraft (helicopter), based in Fort McMurray, AB. Fort McMurray is centrally located, with respect to the 48 hydrometric gauging stations, and WSC has a warehouse facility to stage from here. Field trip durations can be up to two weeks in length, and Fort McMurray has the amenities and services to accommodate staff.
-Work
Water Survey of Canada requires transportation to and from 48 hydrometric gauging stations, to service/calibrate electronic data acquisition systems and conduct hydrometric discharge measurements. The equipment load averages 150 kg, not including the passengers. Squirrel cheeks and skid baskets, are required for bulky equipment. Transportation of dangerous goods, including gasoline and 12 volt batteries, is also required. Technologists continually maintain brush on and around the helicopter landing pads as required. Pilots must be experienced in landing in remote conditions, and must remain on site for the duration of the site visit, typically one to two hours. Depending on daylight and environmental conditions, several sites can be visited in a day. WSC relies on the experience and knowledge of the pilot to assess daylight and environmental conditions, and adjust schedules as required. Slinging of equipment into or around gauging stations may be required on occasion.
-Scheduling
Water Survey of Canada plans hydrometric gauging station site visits at strategic times of the season, to collect timely and relevant hydrometric water level and discharge data. The current developed schedule is as follows:
January, mid month : 14 flight daysFebruary, mid month : 1 flight dayMarch, mid month : 14 flight daysMay, entire month : 14 flight daysJune, entire month : 13 flight daysAugust, mid month : 13 flight daysOctober, mid month : 13 flight daysDecember, mid month: 1 flight dayflood / repair : 5 flight days
This equates to approximately 88 helicopter flight-days per year. Scheduling of the annual trips is planned around November-December for the following operating season. For the purposes of this contract, the following operating season will run from April 1 to March 31, aligning with the federal government fiscal year.Five flood / repair days have been included in the schedule, if a high priority site goes down or a significant weather event occurs. Every attempt will be made to give the operator as much notification as possible in these events.
-Technologist Overlap
There are a total of four hydrometric technologists that are responsible for operating and maintaining the hydrometric gauging station network in the Fort McMurray field area. Working in teams of two, both teams may be conducting field work at the same time, requiring two helicopters per day. Two helicopters available is the preferred requirement.
