If you notice something flying near power lines this week, here's why
Indiana Michigan Power will use aerial drones to inspect transmission lines over several eastern Indiana counties beginning as early as Tuesday.
www.thestarpress.com
Yes, that's been gong on for quite a while, here in Australia too.
Imagine how much cost and time network providers are saving using drones over helis ?
At least we don’t have wedge-tailed eagles to contend with while flying in open spaces here in the US, do they have insurance for that in Australia or do the companies just have to eat it when they attack? I’ve seen pics of some pretty expensive aircraft doing infrastructure surveys that were destroyed by those things!
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Bald eagles would mainly take on a drone near an active nest, or nearby - migrating bald eagles would mainly ignore them. Red-tailed hawks are more aggressive, and do show interest even if not nesting. The worse we have here are hummingbirds, they chase ravens even!I imagine most of the utilities people use either inhouse RePL licensed drone personnel, or hire full RePL / ReOC licensed pilots / operators.
Either way, they probably do (have to) have full insurances including equipment and public liability.
That photo does look expensive
Wedgies are found right across Oz, and yeah they seem to take drones on "no worries mate" ?
Don't Bald Eagles have similar temperaments ?
Bald eagles would mainly take on a drone near an active nest, or nearby - migrating bald eagles would mainly ignore them. Red-tailed hawks are more aggressive, and do show interest even if not nesting. The worse we have here are hummingbirds, they chase ravens even!
I think the wedgies beat all though! They are just mean and hit anything flying, even humans on parasails (no doubt you’ve seen videos of poor pilots getting hit in the head by them!)
Ah, Wedgies don't have to migrate here, possibly makes them even more territorial.
Yes, small birds often chase Wedgies too, they just ignore them (possibly snack on them sometimes) lol.
Have seen literally dozens on roadsides sometimes in the outback, seem to be having a Wedgie conference, a most majestic bird in flight, and striking appearance on the ground too.
A pic of one snacking on road kill on a trip coming home . . .
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Taken at quite a distance with some zoom, on a little Olympus P&S TG-1, sorry about the fuzziness.
Got to go look up YouTube for paraglider Wedge Tail now
Sam Clarks (google “wedge-tail paraglider”) is pretty good,
They have been using DJI Drones to inspect High Voltage lines and towers for about 3 or 4 years now in the US. It's good for us drone enthusiasts but sucks for the Line Heli Pilots and Line Techs... They made bookoo bucks, just think how much money those electrical companies are saving on equipment, manpower , insurance and whatever else. I bet its in the millions easilyYes, that's been gong on for quite a while, here in Australia too.
Imagine how much cost and time network providers are saving using drones over helis ?
My team lead is a helicopter pilot and hate drones. Lol, he probably losing a lot of money. Flying helicopter has been his second job.They have been using DJI Drones to inspect High Voltage lines and towers for about 3 or 4 years now in the US. It's good for us drone enthusiasts but sucks for the Line Heli Pilots and Line Techs... They made bookoo bucks, just think how much money those electrical companies are saving on equipment, manpower , insurance and whatever else. I bet its in the millions easily
My team lead is a helicopter pilot and hate drones. Lol, he probably losing a lot of money. Flying helicopter has been his second job.
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My team lead is a helicopter pilot and hate drones. Lol, he probably losing a lot of money. Flying helicopter has been his second job.
Yeah that part of it is horrible. Those Line worker positions including heli pilot have been doing it for decades passing the trade down to each new generation of family. I do feel for them