> Also, it's counterintuitive that they cite lower fuel costs as a reason for the decline (since they're popular with oil and gas companies). The article menti

> Also, it's counterintuitive that they cite lower fuel costs as a reason for the decline (since they're popular with oil and gas companies). The article mentions they use helicopters to survey prospective mines and oilfields, but they also use them to get workers and supplies to and from oil rigs. Apparently in the Gulf of Mexico alone, there are between 5,000 and 9,000 flights per day[0]. Lower fuel costs = less production = less flights to rigs = less need for newer helicopters. Of course it also mentions that drones are now often being used for surveys, and that's likey another big reason: for photography, surveying (not just oil but many other industries), inspections, surveillance, etc drones are much cheaper and easier than sending usually multiple people up in the air. [0] https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/snapshots/stories/?slide=21 https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/snapshots/stories/?slide=21