Utility to start aerial power line inspections
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - Northwestern Wisconsin residents might soon notice a helicopter cruising over their neighborhoods.
Xcel Energy plans to start a six-day aerial inspection its transmission lines on April 21. Helicopter crews will look for defects, loose fittings and other potential problems that could cause outages.
The patrols will take place during the day. The helicopter will fly within 50 feet of the lines at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. The helicopter will hover if crews need to take a closer look at a potential problem.
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.