Eversource Energy begins its summer helicopter inspections of transmission lines this week, company officials say.
Helicopters will begin flying over main transmission lines in Meriden, Middlefield, Berlin, and Southington this week, then move on to eastern Connecticut next week, according to Craig Hallstrom, the company’s regional electric operations president.
“This inspection involves the use of low-flying helicopters equipped with high-resolution cameras, which can detect potential equipment issues before they occur,” Hallstrom said in a news release.
He called the aerial inspections a “crucial part of our commitment to reducing the frequency and duration of power outages.”
Weather permitting, the inspections will take place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. using two black MD500 helicopters with registration numbers N371EE and N500LK, Hallstrom said.
Calling the transmission system the “backbone of the electric grid,” Hallstrom added that overhead inspections of the lines and equipment, “often located upwards of 100 feet in the air” help engineers detect potential problems, allowing maintenance and upgrades.
