I have been without internet for 6 weeks and have just read this thread.RIP S.T, condolences to all concerned.
Having lost a few friends to wire strikes, I always question the circumstances surrounding yet another one. Low flying operations are inherently dangerous; powerlines are not the only thing down there that will bring one unstuck. The risk of hitting powerlines will never be eliminated. We can only reduce it.
After the wire strikes during last years plague locust operations, the agencies involved employed "consultants". Their answer to eliminating the risk was simple;
"Do Not Descend Below 500ft Agl"
I
n my opinion they should have said, "Do not fly in a helicopter". This would have totally eliminated the risks involved in this kind of work, and we would have been only slightly less effective in completing our objective (to find locusts).
Flying hours and experience do not seem to be a major factor in wire strikes.
I personally know of three fatalities in which each pilot had 10,000hrs+,
One of these also had thousands of hours of powerline operations.
There is one common factor with all wire strikes....... The pilot did not see the wire.
I have worked closely with powerline companies on all types of operations including patrolling stringing and installation of marker balls. On one stinging job I asked them why they were not installing a marker ball on the line I was stringing, it was easy and cheap to do at this time. Their answer was they did not think about it.
It was obvious to me that the line would be a danger to aircraft. It was alonside the inland lane west of Williamtown airspace, it was a SWER line across a valley, and the poles were hidden amongst trees. I am currently tyring to find out what the powerline companies policy is on the installation of marker balls.
Several years ago a company that I was working for provided a quote to a NSW powerline company to install marker balls on all spans that were greater than 45m Agl. They only wanted a quote for a specific area of lines, which they considered to be in areas of high helicopter traffic. For those of you who know the area it was around Kuringai National park and the quote was requested in response to inquiries made by NPWS.
Needless to say the quote was never approved as it involved hundreds of hours of helicopter platform work, which runs out at about 3-4 times the hourly rate of a heli without a platform.
The wire that S.T hit was allegedly 150ft Agl. I am still trying to confirm this. I am also trying to confirm if in fact it was a wire that I had personally patrolled 2 years ago and recommended marker balls be installed. At this stage I suspect it is.
I am currently thinking about a powerline proximity device and would appreciate any information on any other such devices that anyone out there has seen or used.
At the moment all I can say to all pilots operating low level is this
1 Brief all passengers and crew about wires…more eyes, more chance.
2.Do a high level recon…. spend the time; the customer is paying for it.
3.Whenever descending below ridge, hill or treetop height, be aware and stay aware…COMPLACENCEY KILLS.