Powerline Surveys
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Don't know anyone who uses model helicopters - they all use real ones 
Seriously, though, I know of one company who uses Twin Squirrel and B206 for wire patrol, and also R22 for underground pipeline inspection (From above the ground, that is!).
Seriously, though, I know of one company who uses Twin Squirrel and B206 for wire patrol, and also R22 for underground pipeline inspection (From above the ground, that is!).
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To: Corporate Yank
One Florida utility uses a Hughes/MD (Don’t know which model) to both inspect and repair their high voltage power lines. In the repair mode they move sideways towards the highline with a man sitting on a side platform. He is wearing a special chain mail suit under his flight suit. He grounds (earths) the helicopter to the highline and usually there is a very large arc. With the helicopter attached to the highline the man gets off of the platform and onto the wire. He then shinnies himself up to where they had previously spotted a damaged insulator and the man then removes and replaces the damaged insulator. The process is then reversed and the man gets back on the platform and breaks the connection between the helicopter and the highline. Florida is known for Alligator wrestling and I think the guy on the wires is the same person that wrestles alligators on his off time.
A bit off the subject, in Scandinavia they use a Hughes/MD to clear the right of way for the utility by cutting down tree branches that come near the wires. No, not with the rotor blades. The have an external sling load that consists of several radial saws hung in a chain. I think they use a gas-powered engine for drive.
The helicopter sets up a line parallel to the highline and moves along that line and if any tree branches get in the way they are cut off. From what I could determine it was very effective.
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The Cat
One Florida utility uses a Hughes/MD (Don’t know which model) to both inspect and repair their high voltage power lines. In the repair mode they move sideways towards the highline with a man sitting on a side platform. He is wearing a special chain mail suit under his flight suit. He grounds (earths) the helicopter to the highline and usually there is a very large arc. With the helicopter attached to the highline the man gets off of the platform and onto the wire. He then shinnies himself up to where they had previously spotted a damaged insulator and the man then removes and replaces the damaged insulator. The process is then reversed and the man gets back on the platform and breaks the connection between the helicopter and the highline. Florida is known for Alligator wrestling and I think the guy on the wires is the same person that wrestles alligators on his off time.
A bit off the subject, in Scandinavia they use a Hughes/MD to clear the right of way for the utility by cutting down tree branches that come near the wires. No, not with the rotor blades. The have an external sling load that consists of several radial saws hung in a chain. I think they use a gas-powered engine for drive.
The helicopter sets up a line parallel to the highline and moves along that line and if any tree branches get in the way they are cut off. From what I could determine it was very effective.
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The Cat
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As the thread has moved off you original UK
request see "Aeropower" which is found through my site. Fascinating what the Aussies get up to with a Heli and some bits of wire.....
I UK I have seen 206, twin and single sq.
and one company was using a Schwiezer 330
(Southern air had a contract I beleive)
Still, it is ages since I've been home.
Bet 'tis cold....Know its WET!
request see "Aeropower" which is found through my site. Fascinating what the Aussies get up to with a Heli and some bits of wire.....
I UK I have seen 206, twin and single sq.
and one company was using a Schwiezer 330
(Southern air had a contract I beleive)
Still, it is ages since I've been home.
Bet 'tis cold....Know its WET!
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The firm that does live line repair is AGROTORS, based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA. They have done work for us (electric & gas utility), and it is fascinating to watch them. The guys with the saw rig sent us a video of their operation (trimming right-of-ways), and until you see them work (real eye opener), you would consider any discussion of same as mere bar-talk by deranged people. We are merging with the National Grid USA division of National Grid PLC (London), and I would like to contact anybody flying power line inspection for them to compare equipment specs and procedures. Thanks, CY
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*deep inhale* I LOVE the smell of jet-a in the morning..
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*deep inhale* I LOVE the smell of jet-a in the morning..
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Hi
I do the R22 pipeline inspection mentioned by hollycopter.
I quite enjoy it,you have to be able to do 500 foot downwind engine off landings in the base check (OPC) which you could say are "interesting" and "quick" in an R22, which really does plummet during the auto especially as you are trying to get it round the corner, in a severe nose down attitude to keep the speed on.
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elpirata
I do the R22 pipeline inspection mentioned by hollycopter.
I quite enjoy it,you have to be able to do 500 foot downwind engine off landings in the base check (OPC) which you could say are "interesting" and "quick" in an R22, which really does plummet during the auto especially as you are trying to get it round the corner, in a severe nose down attitude to keep the speed on.
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elpirata
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We have a Bell 206L3 "Longranger", and have used it for our gas line as well as power line patrols (9500 miles transmission, a hell of a lot more sub-transmission and distribution) for the last 15 years. It has been a wonderful machine; never skipped a beat. There used to be a small heli flight school next door to our hangar that taught with R22's . To watch them do an auto to the taxiway out front, looked like the perfect "elevator to hell". I'll stick with my longranger, at least I might have time to blink my eyes a few times before I touch down. <g>. CY
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*deep inhale* I LOVE the smell of jet-a in the morning..
[This message has been edited by Corporate Yank (edited 22 December 2000).]
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*deep inhale* I LOVE the smell of jet-a in the morning..
[This message has been edited by Corporate Yank (edited 22 December 2000).]
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To Lu,
You are just a little off in your description of airborne liveline, some minor corrections as follows : At no time is the Helicopter ever " Grounded " while in contact with an energized conductor, this would result in the worlds largest flashcube. The correct term is " bonded " A bonding cable is attached from the helicopter to the conducter to equalize the conductive potential between the two, when this occurs the helicopter is now part of the conductor. As for the suits the are fabric blend, 70% nomex and 30 % stainless steel. When properly worn ( with the different articles bonded ) they actually place the person inside of a Farraday's cage with the current flowing around the wearer as oppossed to thru them. The pilot in a suit is actually in 2 cages, the suit , and the helicopter itself is a cage. Next thing is , that most insulators are changed with the line de-energized although it can be done hot, and the linemen are usually deposited on the tower for this operation
( cold end of the string ) and then a ladder is slung in with the rigging, hoists, new sting etc. Doing this hot can be tricky.
When a lineman is deposited on the conductor he is usually going to perform maint on the hot end of the string. Most likely the replacement of hardware such as a corona ring, cotter pin, stockbrige damper, etc. That outfit in Florida that I believe you are refering to, went Tango Uniform, but there are others. A side note. I was extremely intrigued by your posts on "Just Helicopters " about EMF generated by non bonded rotating components and the damage they cause. In the early days we trashed a H-500 rotorhead because the blades and head are insulated from each other via a fiberglass bushing on the vertical hinge pin.
Never wrestled any alligators but I know a few Lineman that I'D put my money on aginst a gator. Lasty I personally would not do wirework in anything but a 500...Cheers
You are just a little off in your description of airborne liveline, some minor corrections as follows : At no time is the Helicopter ever " Grounded " while in contact with an energized conductor, this would result in the worlds largest flashcube. The correct term is " bonded " A bonding cable is attached from the helicopter to the conducter to equalize the conductive potential between the two, when this occurs the helicopter is now part of the conductor. As for the suits the are fabric blend, 70% nomex and 30 % stainless steel. When properly worn ( with the different articles bonded ) they actually place the person inside of a Farraday's cage with the current flowing around the wearer as oppossed to thru them. The pilot in a suit is actually in 2 cages, the suit , and the helicopter itself is a cage. Next thing is , that most insulators are changed with the line de-energized although it can be done hot, and the linemen are usually deposited on the tower for this operation
( cold end of the string ) and then a ladder is slung in with the rigging, hoists, new sting etc. Doing this hot can be tricky.
When a lineman is deposited on the conductor he is usually going to perform maint on the hot end of the string. Most likely the replacement of hardware such as a corona ring, cotter pin, stockbrige damper, etc. That outfit in Florida that I believe you are refering to, went Tango Uniform, but there are others. A side note. I was extremely intrigued by your posts on "Just Helicopters " about EMF generated by non bonded rotating components and the damage they cause. In the early days we trashed a H-500 rotorhead because the blades and head are insulated from each other via a fiberglass bushing on the vertical hinge pin.
Never wrestled any alligators but I know a few Lineman that I'D put my money on aginst a gator. Lasty I personally would not do wirework in anything but a 500...Cheers
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Anyone seen film of the French Puma (I know Puma's are French, I mean operated by the French national grid...) with the observer in the boot area? He has an observation bubble thing and lies on his belly facing down and aft. He also has a control of some sort and actually takes over for the precision work (10% authority I guess, a bit like the SAR crewmen in the S61s).
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Another day in paradise
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Another day in paradise
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To: Wirepilot
I’m sorry I misspoke about the connection between the helicopter and the conductor. I didn’t know the correct term to use since this is a multi national forum. If you have been following my posts about gyroscopic precession you would have noted that the arguments were based primarily on misinterpretation of the other guys terminology. I was torn between the terms earthed and grounded and never even considered bonding.
Regarding my other minor errors in the description I was so intrigued by what I was looking at on the TV screen I didn’t pay much attention to what the commentator was saying. He did say something about a Faraday cage and likened the man being on the conductor to a bird landing on a wire. Actually, he may have been talking about the helicopter in making the bird comparison.
I’m glad that at least one person has recognized my effort to educate regarding the non-bonding of rotorheads and the effects of it.
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The Cat
I’m sorry I misspoke about the connection between the helicopter and the conductor. I didn’t know the correct term to use since this is a multi national forum. If you have been following my posts about gyroscopic precession you would have noted that the arguments were based primarily on misinterpretation of the other guys terminology. I was torn between the terms earthed and grounded and never even considered bonding.
Regarding my other minor errors in the description I was so intrigued by what I was looking at on the TV screen I didn’t pay much attention to what the commentator was saying. He did say something about a Faraday cage and likened the man being on the conductor to a bird landing on a wire. Actually, he may have been talking about the helicopter in making the bird comparison.
I’m glad that at least one person has recognized my effort to educate regarding the non-bonding of rotorheads and the effects of it.
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The Cat
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Wirepilot, I've never been inside a 500. What is there about one that you favor for this? (I mean for inspection, not repair). Also, a local fellow who operates a 500 told our company that he could set a 1700 pound utility pole for us, and that he could auto from 80 feet (0 IAS). Is all this true? If so, maybe we should look into purchasing one.-CY
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*deep inhale* I LOVE the smell of jet-a in the morning..
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*deep inhale* I LOVE the smell of jet-a in the morning..
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CY
Thought I would jump in here. 500D weighs about 1600lbs dry max auw with jetisonable load is 3550lbs so picking up 1700 lbs is possible just ! A 500F can possibly pick up more.The operator if he is regularly picking this up is thrashing the bollocks of his machines. As for auto from 80 ft 0 ias ask if he has tried it or better still demonstrate it ( suggest you sit on the airfield and watch ) if you really want a laugh ask him to demonstrate auto carrying 1700 lbs on his hook.
Seriously a 500 is very sound machine, very small,agile and imensly crash survivable, ask US Loach pilots.
Have a good one, by the way it has stopped raining here in the UK for the first time in months.
Thought I would jump in here. 500D weighs about 1600lbs dry max auw with jetisonable load is 3550lbs so picking up 1700 lbs is possible just ! A 500F can possibly pick up more.The operator if he is regularly picking this up is thrashing the bollocks of his machines. As for auto from 80 ft 0 ias ask if he has tried it or better still demonstrate it ( suggest you sit on the airfield and watch ) if you really want a laugh ask him to demonstrate auto carrying 1700 lbs on his hook.
Seriously a 500 is very sound machine, very small,agile and imensly crash survivable, ask US Loach pilots.
Have a good one, by the way it has stopped raining here in the UK for the first time in months.
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I prefer the 500 for inspection and patrol as well as repair/construction. First of all it flies well it tight quarters, down in the trees that you may find along right of ways,
also flies and hovers well regard less of wind azimuth. If you are doing a real inspection, you will find that most of your flying is in that mushy zone, just above ETL but not quite fully transitioned into fwd flight, It seems to be less prone to LTE, and SWP than most other single rotor helicopters and this is a big plus flying low, slow, and heavy in tight areas.
Another nice feature, as was pionted out is its crash suvivability. Unless you get a tree in the cockpit or roll down a hill you'll probably just walk away.
As far as the 1700 lb power pole, you may be able to pull it off, but not in a production environment. Unframed poles are a very low drag load which allows max possble lift to occur. But 1300-1400 pounders are about max.
On a standard day at sea level you usually hit max torque at about 3300 lbs, transients at about 3400 and the rotors start slowing at about 3500. ( you can get the empty weight of a " D " model under 1500lbs.)
As far as auto from 80 ft, with zero aispeed you will break the helicopter. You will be fine but the machine will be broken, period.
you will need a good twenty five KTS, off the nose and a nice flat surface between your toes to have any chance of pulling that one off. I've had a few of these occur,in actual working conditions and there is a big difference between getting all lined up over the spot going 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, and rolling off the throttle,and having it get real quiet and heavy with your head out the door tring to get something done.
Lastly, from an operators standpoint you get more bang for you buck with a 500 for these missions than with any other make/model Any thing bigger is overkill, and any thing amaller just wont get the job done !
( i.e.R44 )
cheers , Wirepilot
also flies and hovers well regard less of wind azimuth. If you are doing a real inspection, you will find that most of your flying is in that mushy zone, just above ETL but not quite fully transitioned into fwd flight, It seems to be less prone to LTE, and SWP than most other single rotor helicopters and this is a big plus flying low, slow, and heavy in tight areas.
Another nice feature, as was pionted out is its crash suvivability. Unless you get a tree in the cockpit or roll down a hill you'll probably just walk away.
As far as the 1700 lb power pole, you may be able to pull it off, but not in a production environment. Unframed poles are a very low drag load which allows max possble lift to occur. But 1300-1400 pounders are about max.
On a standard day at sea level you usually hit max torque at about 3300 lbs, transients at about 3400 and the rotors start slowing at about 3500. ( you can get the empty weight of a " D " model under 1500lbs.)
As far as auto from 80 ft, with zero aispeed you will break the helicopter. You will be fine but the machine will be broken, period.
you will need a good twenty five KTS, off the nose and a nice flat surface between your toes to have any chance of pulling that one off. I've had a few of these occur,in actual working conditions and there is a big difference between getting all lined up over the spot going 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, and rolling off the throttle,and having it get real quiet and heavy with your head out the door tring to get something done.
Lastly, from an operators standpoint you get more bang for you buck with a 500 for these missions than with any other make/model Any thing bigger is overkill, and any thing amaller just wont get the job done !
( i.e.R44 )
cheers , Wirepilot
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Due to all the different types of wires, poles etc. The Military teaches helo drivers to Cross at the Poles. Mainly because the Wires themselves droop, but guy wires(which are hard to see) are usually tight. No Altitude restriction, just caution..
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Wooden pole patrol required that the A/C be one and a half rotor spans laterally. It was also recommended that you keep possitive airspeed Idealy (40 kts)but this was difficult to maintain as 11 Kv patrols (single wooden lines) would follow a ring cct and would return you back to the sub/stn you recently left and resembled somthing of clover leaf pattern with each circuit having spurs going up to individual farm Houses, factories and such like services. 44Kv (doudle wooden poles) were relativly easier and would be flown at somwhere between 20-30 kts ground speed same latteral spacing.
Hope that this info helps
Hope that this info helps