STRANGE flight paths have been spotted across Sussex this week.

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of flights taking to the skies has dramatically decreased in recent weeks.

But one plane was spotted crisscrossing the region on Thursday.

The strange path have left people confused as to what the aircraft has been doing.

The Pilatus PC-12/45 hovered above Surrey, East Sussex and Kent, continually flying between inland and the coast throughout the day.

The Argus:

The aircraft began its journey in East Sussex, flying above coastal towns before moving inland to Kent.

It continued through Kent and reach as far Southend in Essex, before turning and heading back towards the south coast.

It continued to crisscross between Kent and Sussex, slowly moving towards Surrey.

It reached Haslemere, before taking a westward turn just south of Guildford and flying towards Hampshire.

The reason why these strange flight paths have been occurring is because the UK's largest aerial survey company, Bluesky International Ltd, has been completing aerial surveys across the country.

The company maintains a three year update programme of vertical aerial photography in England which is then "processed and corrected so it is map accurate".

This data is licensed to both the public and private sectors for applications such as planning, flood modelling, coastal erosion analysis, map production, civil engineering projects, forestry management and disaster planning.

Bluesky carries out aerial surveying of this kind on a regular basis, however, as the skies are less congested at the moment the strange flight paths have become more noticeable.

The company also captures light detecting and ranging data which is "highly accurate height data" of vegetation and manmade features, which provides three-dimensional information for planners, architects, engineers and telecommunications.

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund