Remote controlled helicopters: a tool for air sampling in difficult situations

Remote-controlled (RC) sampling helicopters were designed and constructed for use as air sampling platforms. These units employed hobby-kits as a basic chassis. Sampling instruments mounted included sampling pumps with sorption of indicator tubes, detection instrumentation and evacuated gas sampling canisters. Example of system usage is given, along with the description of the X-Cell, the third generation of RC helicopter developed by the Emergencies Science Division (ESD). Also reported here are data on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as collected in the smoke plume of the Newfoundland Offshore Burn Experiment (NOBE).