Illuminating Co to begin line patrols
Message from Illuminating Company:
Please be advised that on approximately 9/23, weather permitting, Chesapeake Bay Helicopters will be mobilizing to the Illuminating Company region to begin routine transmission line patrols for the Fall season on all Illuminating Company transmission lines, 138kV – 345kV. These patrols are anticipated to take three weeks to complete but completion could be impeded by inclement weather.
A routine visual patrol is a general inspection of the structures, conductors, and all associated hardware on the transmission line(s) where the onboard inspector is looking for any outstanding issues or immediate threats to the reliability of the transmission line(s). The helicopter may also be seen hovering and/or circling to get a closer look at any problems that may be found during these patrols.
It should be noted that the contractor has been authorized to patrol the transmission circuits in their entirety (i.e. “breaker-to-breaker”), so patrols on certain lines may therefore extend into the neighboring regions. The flight crew provides information on their daily location to both Transmission Lines Maintenance, FE West Transmission Operations, and also any local airports when in their airspace.