Maintenance

Utilizing airborne helicopter systems to carry out power line maintenance tasks has many advantages over ground based, bucket-truck methods. Aerial access to structures allows for the rapid completion of scheduled projects. Additionally, projects are completed with an absolute minimum of impact to right-of-ways and sensitive environmental areas.

Linemen transport and access to the work include skid level platform for mid-span requirements; helicopter skids and short haul (long line) in suspended chair.

Energized maintenance can include some of the following services:

Maintenance – Energized

  • Insulator replacements (Hot stick and bare hand methods)
  • Conductor Spacer replacements (at existing locations or new measured locations)
  • Conductor repairs:
    • Full tension (compression) splice or sleeve repair or replacement
    • Armor rod repairs
    • Wire cut-ins
    • Damper replacements or new installations
  • H-frame knee or v-brace replacements
  • Insulator washing
  • Installation of aerial numbers, warning signs or other markers
  • Bird discouraging device installations (all types)
  • Aerial warning spheres (marker balls) installation or replacement
  • Anti-galloping devices
  • Shield wire repairs
    • Full tension (compression) splice or sleeve repair or replacement
    • Armor rod repairs
    • Wire cut-ins
    • Damper replacements or new installations
  • Shield wire connection repairs
    • Bonding
    • De-insulating
    • Hardware replacement (all types)

All the Energized services listed above can also be provided with the affected circuit de-energized. Air2 offers the following additional services.

Maintenance – de-energized:

  • Cross arm replacements (various configurations)
  • Davit arm replacements
  • Replacement of suspension hardware (conductor, shield wire and OPGW)
  • Installation of lightning arrestors
  • Shield wire insulator testing
  • Installation of surge arrestors
  • Specialized insulator inspections
  • Insulator replacements (conventional methods)
  • OHM testing

Special projects:

We have always consulted with our customers to come up with innovative ideas to solve their maintenance issues. Some examples include:

345-kV Arms

KCP&L has a significant amount of 345-kV lines within their transmission system with wood arms. Due to the age of the arms some are approaching the end of their life cycle. Obtaining out of service lines to perform maintenance is becoming more difficult therefore replacing the arms while energized was a perfect solution. KCP&L, Hughes Manufacturing and Air2 together, designed a new steel arm in such a manner that could be long-lined in place using the 500-MD aircraft, therefore, keeping the cost more reasonable.

161-kV Arms

Entergy’s Transmission Grid in Arkansas had a need to replace many of their 161-kV cross arms within their system. Since the lines were becoming very difficult to get continuous outages, Air2 worked on solutions and techniques that would result in a safe work practice for replacing the 161-kV cross-arms energized. The methods were successful and procedures written which we have now added to our many other services.