1-Mar-2024Source: Bell
Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced at HAI Heli Expo 2024 the successful delivery of a Bell 505 to Aerial Patrol. The powerline and pipeline utility inspection company located in Little Rock, Arkansas supports major power and energy providers across the U.S. with services including helicopter aerial surveys for utility use, aerial photography, and critical... Read more
28-Apr-2021
Helicopter was involved in a routine powerline inspection when it went down on the edge of a wood close to the lines, then burning out. Two passengers were seriously injured, and the pilot was fatally injured... Read more
9-Dec-2020Source: Powercor
Two new helicopters conducting vegetation and powerline inspections for electricity distributor Powercor will be seen flying above Warrnambool this week as part of their first official flight. The helicopters, combined with industry-leading technology, establish a unique aerial services capability to support Powercor’s annual vegetation management program. From Tuesday, 8 December until Monday, 21 December, the... Read more
14-Sep-2018Source: Avalex
Babcock Aviation has selected a full suite of new-generation digital video equipment, including Avalex AVM4178Q 17-inch HD widescreen displays, Avalex AVC1816 Smart Video Management System and the Avalex AVR8414 HD DVR, as part of the fleet upgrade program for a fleet of five Airbus H135 helicopters operated by Western Power Distribution (WPD). This enables WPD... Read more
8-Nov-2017
Two men working on power lines from the helicopter, and heir safety harness failed because it had been rubbing against the power lines causing it to “snap” the release from Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office reportedly said. Both men fell about 100 feet to their deaths from the helicopter – they were later named as Nicholas Gamalski,... Read more
26-Sep-2016Source: HeliHub.com
HeliAir Sweden has recently procured a second EC120B helicopter. The EC120B will be used to help with power line inspections, fire-fighting and collapsing trees. As reported by Eban Magazine. HeliAir Sweden are also going to sell their three MD500s, and demonstration flights were made last week to initial interested parties. Their fleet currently holds three... Read more
13-May-2016Source: Airbus
On April 21st, Airbus Helicopters delivered an H125 to RTE at a ceremony at its headquarters in Marignane, France. At this occasion, the company also celebrated a major milestone of one of RTE’s pilots who recently clocked in more than 30,000 flight hours, the majority of which on Airbus Helicopters Ecureuil aircraft. On February 4th,... Read more
31-Oct-2014Source: Airbus
Western Power Distribution (WPD) has signed a purchase agreement for a new EC135 P2e from Airbus Helicopters UK. The aircraft, selected against a demanding requirement, will join WPD’s four current EC135 P1s, making it one of the largest, independent fleets in the UK. Robin Tutcher, WPD’s Helicopter Unit Manager said: “Augmenting the existing fleet has... Read more
2-Sep-2014
Pilot Ron Chaplin injured when helicopter came down during low level powerline work... Read more
16-Jul-2014Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that Terna SpA of Italy has placed an order for one AW109 Power light twin helicopter. The aircraft, which will perform electricity infrastructure monitoring in Italy, will be delivered in 2015. The AW109 Power was chosen after a rigorous and demanding evaluation process by the customer thanks to its outstanding... Read more
16-Jul-2014Source: Bond
A unique helicopter system that can ‘catch’ live high-voltage wires, allowing National Grid to carry out repairs and maintenance without affecting power supplies has been unveiled by Bond Helicopters Europe (Bond). The custom-built equipment, the only one of its kind in the country, allows National Grid technicians to safely carry out essential works on live... Read more
27-Jun-2014Source: Airbus Helicopters
The delivery of Airbus Helicopters‟ initial two rotorcraft to Aerial Power Lines Sdn Bhd (APL) will enable this Malaysian operator to offer competitive solutions for electrical power line construction, maintenance and surveillance – furthering the country‟s evolution as a developed nation. Provided to APL during a ceremony today at the Airbus Helicopters Malaysia subsidiary in... Read more
27-Jan-2014
Crashed from low level during powerline survey work for Holy Cross Energy. All 3 POB fatally injured, including Doug Sheffer, owner and chief pilot of DBS Helicopters (from this page). The others were named here as Larry Shaffer and Christopher Gaskill... Read more
9-Jan-2014
Powerline patrol – encountered wind change at low level and was unable to recover. Main blades chopped boom... Read more
9-Oct-2013Source: Haverfield Aviation
Privately owned Haverfield Aviation, Inc., announced today that it will be launching three new operational bases out of Denton, Texas; Ft. Wayne, Indiana; and Valdosta, Georgia. These three new bases will operate in conjunction with Haverfield’s existing corporate office based out of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The launch of these three new bases will now give Haverfield... Read more
25-Sep-2013Source: Schiebel
Schiebel, FLIR and Transpower are proud to announce the successful demonstration of the Schiebel CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) with the integrated FLIR Corona 350 Sensor being used to inspect high voltage power-lines and supporting structures. This event marked the first time that this new capability was demonstrated using a UAS. Transpower with the... Read more
26-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
National Grid, the British-based infrastructure company, has for some years owned and operated helicopters in their own right and not leased in this specialist skill. This began back in 1985 with the purchase of a new Eurocopter AS355F1 Twin Squirrel and has developed with later versions of the AS355. More recently, National Grid decided to... Read more
17-Jun-2013Source: Cassidian
A cooperative experiment that has been on-going for about a year between French electricity distribution network operator ERDF (Electricité Réseau Distribution France) in the “Sillon Rhodanien” region and Survey Copter, a subsidiary of Cassidian, aims to define and develop UAV usage for the inspection of medium-high-voltage aerial power lines. The use of specially dedicated UAVs will... Read more
6-Dec-2012Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today that National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc has purchased the first Bell 429 to be operated in Great Britain. The aircraft will be used for inspection and maintenance of power lines. “We required a versatile and reliable aircraft to support our mission, which is providing power... Read more
22-Jun-2012Source: HeliHub.com
British powerline patrol operator WPD Helicopter Unit is expanding its EC135P1 fleet from two to four aircraft. The third EC135 arrived Thursday 21st June at Oxford Airport for the fitment of high-intensity strobe lights by Eurocopter UK, and was still carrying it’s German registration D-HKUG, serial 0090. It will shortly be re-registered in the UK... Read more
7-May-2012Source: Rogers Helicopters
Rogers Helicopters, one of the country’s leading aerial firefighting specialists, is now emerging as a major provider of services to the gas and electric utility industry which relies increasingly on helicopters for power line installations and other construction projects. “Although we are still committed to firefighting, we decided to pursue the utility and construction markets... Read more
17-Nov-2011Source: Eurocopter
AIRTELIS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RTE specializing in heliborne operations, received its first EC225 helicopter today from Eurocopter – the world’s leading helicopter manufacturer in the civil market. The delivery ceremony was held in Marignane in France’s Bouches du Rhône department, home to Eurocopter’s headquarters. Founded in 2011, AIRTELIS performs heliborne operations for customers in... Read more
26-Aug-2011
Leading WA-based helicopter company Heliwest has won a long-term contract to provide emergency response services to Western Power in the southern half of the state. Heliwest already provides scheduled inspection flight services to Western Power and has now added emergency response flying to its operations. Heliwest chief pilot Captain Ashley Williams said the contract specified... Read more
28-Jun-2011Source: Schiebel
Schiebel understands that the unique capabilities of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS provide a wide range of civil applications. The company expects to see the S-100 used in a variety of situations and for tasks previously unimaginable. The drone s outstanding performance in recent high-voltage power line inspections in Austria again demonstrated the S-100 s versatility.... Read more
26-Jan-2011Source: Stratus Helicopters
Through an agreement with Shelby Energy Cooperative, Stratus will be flying over 1200 miles of power lines in multiple counties in Northern Kentucky for inspections starting in February. These inspections can take hundreds of man hours done from the ground. Stratus can accomplish the same with only two observers and a pilot in a matter... Read more