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Why Are Helicopters Flying Low Around Woodbury, Middlebury and Bethlehem?
If you see a helicopter flying low, there's no need to worry. It's just Eversource checking on the vegetation near lines, officials say.
WOODBURY — As part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the power grid and increase reliability, Eversource will be surveying vegetation growing near its high voltage transmission lines in 103 Connecticut communities, including Bethlehem, Middlebury and Woodbury.
The work involves the use of a helicopter flying low over Eversource’s transmission line corridors to check for any encroachment from trees or other vegetation. The helicopters in use are blue and silver, with a tail #N1431W, and blue and white, with a tail # N411DD.
“The helicopter inspections of our transmission lines are a crucial and effective part of our commitment to reducing the frequency and duration of power outages,” said Steve Driscoll, Vice President of Operation Services, in a press release.. “Well over a million customers in Connecticut depend on us for their electric service and that’s why we’re always working proactively to keep the system operating safely and reliably.”
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The aerial inspections began on March 30 and will end on April 8. No flights are scheduled for Saturday or Sunday, April 2 and 3. All flights are weather-permitting and will take place between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The region’s transmission system is the backbone of the electric grid, Driscoll said. Overhead inspections of transmission lines and equipment — often located upwards of 100 feet in the air — help arborists detect potential problems in advance, allowing the company to schedule necessary maintenance before reliability issues arise, he added.
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