The problem as explained to me is not one of risk to the helicopter, but when the water hits the lines, it shorts with the ground and trips the grid. This can lead to damage to some of the network and takes time to reset. I guess this could be a problem if you are relying on electricity to power your home grown fire fighting system or provide power to the mains water pumping system.

I have bombed over power lines in the past before I was aware of the problems and never even noticed. The best idea is to get the power company to isolate the lines whilst you work in the area, probably only take a week or so :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Heads down, look out for the flack

Flash-Over!
 

This is what a small flash-over looks like.

The stuff Jab talks about is much worse... especially as the electricity supply goes up from 220Kv to 765Kv on the transmission lines.

(This is a Facebook link, so you will have to log in there. Be warned, this video is NOT for sensitive viewers.)



Not for sensitive viewers? Absolutely: link removed :=

Splot

can you copy the original vid link and paste it here ? f*%k facebook thanks

A bit technical
 

Hi all,

In good old Victoria there is a little known regulation from the Office of Electrical Safety that says you cant fly an aircraft within 45 meters of a electrical asset. Here is the link:
http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/Portals/0/...kassets-v2.pdf

I could just imagine "poor old mate" having just hit the powerline and survived to tell the tale when some bloke from the OES turns up and whacks him with a fine?????

Having been to a few fires I can say that electricity, water, helicopters and onground crews do not mix. Heavy smoke can cause powerlines to arc out and dropping water across them only makes it worse. If there happens to be people on the ground near the lines they can get a very nasty surprise.

Just my opinion.

The electrical office pops that in to clear themselves (cynically) of any liability over wire strikes. Instead of taking a duty of care position and adding balls to likely spans, they write a quick "thou shalt not" and blame the pilot without accepting any duty of care. Same sort of regulation as "Crashing is not authorised"

I think the testimony reference the dropping and powerline situation needs to seen be in context. One side is trying to suggest that the other side may have deployed assets differently to fight the fire at the beginning, and the other is trying to justify decisions made in the heat of the battle with little available info in a rapidly changing and highly demanding environment. An environment in which they are the subject matter experts.

Water drops around powerlines can be perfectly safe. Distance is the key, and for once they could leave that judgement to the pilots as they are nearly always more experienced than the Air Attack guys who are the fire experts.

Hey MJB - I watched someone in a 212 drop water to close to some lines near Barcelona. Huge flash and a whole district's lights went out. Since it was only an exercise he was the least popular pilot in the area for some time!