ITC conducting aerial patrols of transmission structures
Don’t be alarmed if you hear a helicopter flying low over the neighborhood in the next couple of weeks. Chances are it’s ITC.
Pilots will be conducting aerial patrols of its highvoltage transmission structures and lines across Michigan, according Tuesday’s news release from ITC.
The choppers will be in the air at various times throughout the day now through June 8 providing the weather is good.
The helicopter patrols are done annually to gauge the overall status of the overhead transmission system that is operated by ITC’s Michigan operating entities, ITC Transmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC (METC).
Macomb County will be visited by the helicopters during the week of May 29 to June 2.
Here are the dates and counties where other aerial inspections will be held throughout the Lower Peninsula:
• May 22 — May 26: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne.
• May 29 — June 2: Clinton, Genesee, Gratiot, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, and Tuscola.
• June 5 — June 8: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford.
Such patrols are required by the North American Electrical Reliability Corporation (NERC) for ITC’s vegetation management program. They also support ITC’s proactive maintenance objectives and are in line with the company’s model for operational excellence. They include inspections of all transmission structures and equipment including, but not limited to, monopoles, steel towers, wood poles, conductors (wires), insulators and other equipment.
Having to check for damaged or worn equipment and vegetation hazards requires the inspection flights to be conducted at low altitudes in order to obtain an accurate visual inspection of equipment for lightning damage, wear or other potential problems.
It’s all normal procedure, so there is no cause for alarm if a low-flying helicopter is sighted near transmission lines.
For more information about ITC, visit itc-holdings.com.