PG&E makes use of helicopter know-how to research Bay Space energy line environments

In current weeks, Vacaville residents may need seen helicopters flying low round energy traces.

The rationale? Pacific Fuel & Electrical is utilizing copters geared up with Gentle Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) know-how to evaluate the encircling circumstances of energy traces to find out if vegetation must be reduce.

Megan McFarland, spokeswoman for PG&E, stated the LiDAR was “one of many extra high-tech instruments in our arsenal.”

“It gives an unimaginable degree of element and accuracy, and it tells us concerning the situation and placement of our gear relative to close by vegetation,” she stated. “That’s some of the essential issues we’re as a result of something that may create a wildfire threat is what we wish to handle.”

The copters are piloted by PJ Helicopters, a 3rd technology, family-owned helicopter enterprise based mostly out of Purple Bluff that help PG&E in surveying distribution traces.

“PJ Helicopters is a world chief within the trade for utility hearth and building,” pilot John Meyers stated.

Between April and October — wildfire season — PJ Helicopters flies out to energy traces in several components of the state and makes use of a Sharper Form LiDAR sensor system that makes use of imaging to seize information on issues like branches or different vegetation encroaching on energy traces, gear prone to failing and potential defects.

Meyers stated as soon as a flight crew is completed surveying a circuit, they’re given an iPad.

“We mainly play ‘Pac-Man’ all day and join all of the dots after which we go to the subsequent circuit as soon as we’re completed,” he stated.

Meyers stated the know-how permits the work to be accomplished faster than it could with a drone.

“We will get a whole lot of miles a day versus a drone that may solely get only a few,” he stated.

Between April and the top of October, PJ Helicopters flies out daily between roughly 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. to do the work. It has performed surveys all through the state in areas resembling Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Fresno and Pismo Seaside.

The copter has spent loads of time in Vacaville these days, taking off out of the Nut Tree Airport. On Monday, it may very well be seen flying over the Gates Canyon space which was devastated within the LNU Lightning Advanced fires in 2020. On Thursday, it departed from the Nut Tree Airport to survey traces in Napa.