By PR-Tech (Portland, Or.)
When we think about power line safety, the focus is often on line workers or downed power lines. The risk posed by electrocution or fire is one that utilities have developed robust safeguards for. But there are other dangers that power lines pose that are often less known. Power line and aviation safety is often an overlooked aspect of a utilities’ protection plan.
That danger involved power line wire strikes from helicopters, airplanes, drones, and other flying objects like birds or hot air balloons. Regardless of fault, whether it’s a pilot error or not, utilities can play a large role in whether accidents like these happen or not. Therefore, improvements to power line markings can be critical to the safety of our grid and our pilots.
In fact, power line markings are essential to aviation safety. Appropriate markings can save lives and can also save utilities from costly problems down the line. Wire strike incidents carry considerable costs. From litigation fees to equipment repair to time and profit lost from service interruption.
Power line wire strike incidents are surprisingly common and surprisingly costly as well.
Power Line Locations, Dangers, And Risks
The FAA oversees regulations ensuring airplane takeoff paths are free from obstructions like building and power line heights near airports. However, some regulations, rules, and enforcement tend to decline the further away a plane is from an airport. Aeronautical charts do not have to include power lines on their charts, for example. At lower altitudes, many pilots could find themselves on their own when determining power line height.
The FAA does have some relatively stringent guidelines in place that all utilities must follow, as outlined in the FAA Advisory Circular (AC). The AC offers best practices and recommendations for utilities to mark and light structures for visibility from the air.
Specifically, utilities should note Chapters 3 and 4 of the Advisory Circular when considering how to adequately follow FAA obstruction requirements. to promote aviation safety and also protect your business. Chapter 3 offers recommendations for making structures conspicuous to pilots through painting and marking that will ensure they stand out, and Chapter 4 covers lighting topics.
And yet remember these are only the requirements; while many utilities do solely the bare minimum, a more robust plan for line markers could prevent tragedy, but also allow utilities to escape considerable costs.
In addition to incidences of avoidable lives lost and damaged property, litigation is prevalent. This could carry exorbitant legal costs, along with the potential for having to pay out large awards if the utility is accused of negligent actions by failing to adequately warn pilots of power lines.
That’s because a plaintiff can argue that the wire creates an unreasonable and foreseeable risk of harm to a pilot, and therefore can potentially successfully win a case against a utility by showing it was negligent because it failed to physically mark or otherwise warn of the presence of utility wires that subsequently became an obstacle for aircraft.
A Potent Case in Point for the Importance of Power Line Visibility
In just one example, in a case against Three Rivers Electric Cooperative in Missouri, the families of two U.S. Army reservists brought suit against the utility after their helicopter flew into unmarked power lines. FAA guidelines did not require those power lines to be marked since they were fewer than 200 feet above ground level. They were also not within close proximity to a public airport. However, the plaintiffs’ attorney argued that Three Rivers had a duty to aircraft to mark power lines across the river in question.
The following was part of the case that explains Three Rivers’ role: “The great danger of the transmission wires, here, had nothing to do with whether they were energized or not. Instead, they were uniquely dangerous because of their ability to cause almost certain death to the passengers of any aircraft that might strike them. This danger was compounded because the electrical wires were practically invisible to approaching aircraft, constituting a deadly trap. Three Rivers had knowledge of both the potential of aircraft to fly into these wires and the great danger of death to any such aircraft’s occupants from the 1975 accident that resulted in three fatalities.”
The families were initially awarded $2.5 million in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages, and while that ruling was reversed by the Missouri Supreme Court, a subsequent retrial earned the families a $21 million award.
Incidences and Data Surrounding Helicopters Striking Power Wires
Certainly, helicopters are at high risk of striking power lines, due to the nature of their work—flying and landing in remote areas, searching and retrieving personnel, dumping water on fires, and other tasks that have them flying low and focusing on activities on the ground. Unfortunately, that leads to a high percentage of incidents involving wires. When the FAA analyzed civil and military accidents involving helicopter wire strikes for the 20-year period between 1994 and 2004, they discovered that wire strikes were responsible for approximately 5% of all helicopter accidents.
A report for the Department of Homeland Security found that power lines claim an average of two helicopters a week. Pilots in these accidents had an average of 4,000+ hours and 85% took place during the day. The goal of this particular presentation was to argue for more accurate wire charting through updates of the FAA’s Visual Flight Rules (VFR) charts. While the group requested that charts include more prominent markings of obstacle hazards “to save lives and preserve property,” utilities could assist with the goal by voluntarily adding markers that allow pilots to navigate around power lines.
In 2010, the FAA in conjunction with the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) worked together toward a goal of significantly reducing helicopter incidents. While the plan had a number of complementary components to attack the problem from multiple sides, one initiative of the IHST was to encourage manufacturers and operators to install wire strike protection systems on their helicopters. This is another example that could alleviate or lessen these incidents.
Incidences and Data Surrounding Planes Striking Power Wires
While helicopters might have a slightly higher risk of striking power lines because of the circumstances under which they navigate, airplanes are at risk too, no matter how skilled or accomplished the pilot. In fact, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) reports there is no statistical difference in wire strike incidents that occur between newer pilots and those who have a great deal of experience, thereby putting all pilots at potential risk.
An FAA Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) reports an average of 76.6 accidents per year attributed to wire strikes, with 30% of them resulting in fatalities.
And the problem can be widespread across aircraft that are used for a variety of reasons, whether military, civil or even commercial. One study found that while 60% of wire strike accidents involved general aviation operations, agricultural operations accounted for approximately 27% of accidents.
One recent incident in Australia illustrated the dangers posed by powerlines during low-level spraying operations, according to the resulting Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation. The Powerline Safety Program from the Aerial Application Association of Australia (AAAA) has been launched to promote the fact that powerline network operators should be responsible for marking powerlines when requested by a pilot, aviation company, or landholder. Of course, the proactive thing to do is to mark them before a report is made, and certainly before a tragedy occurs.
Incidences and Data Surrounding Hot Air Balloons and Other Recreational Aircraft Striking Wires
While helicopters and airplanes are the most likely aircraft to meet destruction from power lines, there are other types of incidents, as well. For example, hot-air balloons can strike power lines too; the most recent example was in Albuquerque, New Mexico in late June 2021 when five people were killed. Another hot air balloon power line strike incident occurred in 2016 in Texas; at the time it was reported as the deadliest in U.S. history since the National Transportation Safety Board began keeping records in 1964.
While not all wire strikes can be attributed to power line visibility, there is still no question that power line safety must entail adequate marking.
Incidences and Data Surrounding Drones
Drone use is becoming more widespread, both by commercial enterprises that rely on them for surveying and imaging, as well as enthusiasts who enjoy using them for hobby. In fact, utilities themselves have started using drones more frequently as a safe and cost-effective alternative to trucks or helicopters to survey and maintain power lines, particularly in remote areas or during inclement weather.
But utilities also have a role to play in ensuring that their power lines are properly marked so that drones can avoid a power lines strike. As John Gasstrom, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives, noted, “Some of the same things we learned about flying kites as kids carry over to drones, too. While drones are not tethered to you with a string like a kite that can fall across overhead power lines and put you in direct contact with electricity, drones still present safety concerns their pilots need to consider.”
Power line safety depends on drone operators adhering to rules when flying unmanned aircraft. Like keeping drones at least 100 to 150 feet away from power lines, electrical substations, and other electrical equipment. But adequate markers can help these novice hobbyists more safely pilot their drones.
Addressing the Power Line Safety Issue
Given that power line safety is such a crucial issue, it’s surprising that all utilities don’t make a more concerted effort to proactively mark their power lines, particularly considering that the cost to do so is relatively small.
Some utilities take the position that if they are meeting the bare requirements, then they’re in the clear. In fact, sometimes they take the perspective that the pilot is to blame for not being vigilant. But as one pilot said in summing up in the AOPA Pilot, “It isn’t the wires you see that will kill you, but the ones you don’t see.”
Therefore, taking into account how relatively easy it is to save lives and protect property through properly marking their lines, utilities should prioritize a comprehensive plan for power line markers that will clearly delineate hazardous wires.
That’s where P&R Technologies can help with its proven line marker technology. As mentioned above, the FAA outlines guidelines for properly marking and lighting power lines for aircraft in the FAA Advisory Circular, including that spherical markers should be used to identify overhead lines. Markers are recommended to be spaced equally along the wire at 200-foot intervals. It recommends alternating aviation orange, white and yellow, with orange markers at each end. If the power line needs less than four markers, then they are all to be aviation orange.
P&R Technologies is dedicated to following these guidelines and ensuring its clients know what they can do to nurture a more protective environment. As one example, P&R Technologies’ SpanLiteTM Self-Illuminated Power Line Marker meets or exceeds FAA guidelines. There are also numerous other types of power line markers to consider, as a way to do your part toward power line and aviation safety. Adequate line markers also protect the utility’s investment by warning aircraft and vehicles of the presence of power lines and also keeping birds and wildlife away.
It’s important for utilities to check their lights and markers frequently to ensure they are in good working condition. Showing care for the larger airplane community by properly marking power lines as required shows that you value collaboration.
With its extensive experience working with utilities, regulators, and other officials, P&R Tech can help you determine which markers you need. Contact P&R Technologies today to find out more about how you can do your part to help advance power line and aviation safety.
