Helicopter Maintenance on energized 765,000 Volt Line 

Years ago, before I retired I painted high voltage towers for a company out of Indianapolis. Back then we didn't use safety belts or a safety harness or any ropes. We wasn't allowed to even if we wanted to, for fear of somebody getting them tangled in a " hot " line. We painted these transmission towers while energized. The cracking, humming sound of this very high voltage is something I'll never forget, working up close to it. We would have to crawl, on our hands and knees out onto the " arm" holding the insulator and line. And, be darn sure you keep your head down low, don't let your leg slip, while kneeing down on a small steel angle and paint your way back. At times we might get a static charge of electricity, if we wasn't holding on good. It didn't serious hurt you, but it was enough to make you get a hold. It was hard work. The company urged " racing", where we competed against each other, and the forman, who was the fastest tower painter I knew, would instigate this. If you wasn't on the ground shortly after he was, with your part completed and done right, you got left behind and walked to the next tower. Which, by the way, is where the water cooler, your lunch, and anything else was, in his truck.So, you learned real quick, bust your a-- , work hard and do it right.In all the several years I painted high voltage towers and substations I never seen anybody get into a " hot" line. But, after I left a very close friend did, in a substation working in Houston, Tx., it didn't kill him, somehow, he did survive, but it disfigured him very badly, and he never worked again.He was such a nice guy, and a very hard worker. My hat's off to these guys in this video also. The technology they have available today is amazing. I really enjoyed watching this since I worked in this field awhile. Be careful guys.

The electrical engineers and safety experts who make this work possible are true geniuses! The workmen who actually do the repair work are the BRAVEST people around!

My son just found this video on his own. I’ve shown it to him before but it’s been a while. It’s amazing to watch still. I’m also honored to have met, befriended, and worked on vehicles for one of the guys in the video. Steve is a great guy.

THESE HELICOPTERS PILOTS ARE THE MAIN KEY TO ALL OPERATIONS, OF THIS TASKS , YOU PILOTS ARE AWESOME, WITH YOUR FLIGHT SKILLS , AS WELL THE PEOPLE THAT MAINTAIN THESE AIR CRAFTS, DAILY, PLUS THE PEOPLE FIXING THESE MASSIVE POWER LINES, THANK YOU ALL, FOR, YOUR EXCELLENT WORK, PLEASE CONTINUE, WHAT YOU ALL, DO SO, WELL.

The pilot would have to dam good at what he does. Even a slight drift into those power lines and it's all over for all on board!

Up until I saw this (30 years ago on TV) I always thought the bravest guy who ever lived was the first man to eat a raw oyster. But I changed my mind, the bravest man to ever live was the dude holding the wand during the proof-of-concept flight.

I know a guy who does this for a living now. He is a former US Marine special operations guy who rescued captured US soldiers from enemy territory on multiple occasions in the 1990s. Apparently this type of helicopter line work doesn't frighten him.

Forget the president and or congress. These people are my heroes.

This is really awesome. I was able to see this action live in Waverly Tn a couple of years ago. I could not believe how they changed out the spacers on live wires. Really awesome.

They get paid about 195000 per year...about 100 dollars an hour. Likely the most underpaid workers in the Country.

I love the work performed, but the music is the real reason I watched the entire video

These guys have balls. The highest I've ever worked on was 15 kv, pulling wire and splicing. The heights alone are enough to make your butt pucker. Hats off to these fellas.

A CW4 from my old Aviation unit used to do this, and he was one of the pilots interviewed on a Discovery(?) channel show about the field. Heard he had an engine failure in Alaska and broke his back, but recovered pretty well.

This is why i never complain about my electricity bill i just accept it and pay it, but when it comes to other bills like my phone service, i will fight to save to save myself 5 cents. lol

These 765kv lines run near my house, I like the crackling sound they make. These lines for me come from a different power plant in West Virginia, not Michigan.

I am also proud to be electrical engineer, it is really the most dangerous job in the world.

At about 3:05 it looks as if the worker traps the temporary helicopter grounding wire in one of the spacer clamps - I hope that is an optical illusion, otherwise he had some backtracking to do probably outside the standard procedures (i.e. think of something that won't kill you). Anyway, hats off to the pilots and linesmen who keep the lights on. Makes bull riding look like a nice safe career choice.

I love the late 80's/ early 90's vibe of this educational video. Reminds me of a lot of the science videos I watched in school. Is there anywhere that I can find more of these types of videos?

they dont get paid enuf to carry those huge balls they have around all day...

Wow, incredible skills required for this work. Very impressive.

I am sitting in my living room watching this video. There are 2 transmission lines on the right of way in my back yard. I here a helicopter approaching and see what looks like a Bell Jet Ranger pass low level along the transmission line with what appears to some type of instrument suspended from the copter. Absolutely awesome.

respect for pilot and for that worker. I would s**t myself doing that :/

The height alone would scare the hell out of me... now those live wires? Props to those workers...

The price we pay for electricity is quite reasonable considering everything that goes into getting it to us. Those guys - including the pilot - are the bravest men I've seen, and I don't care how much the pay is, I would not go up there. Not afraid of heights, though.

Holy 2A! There's a whole lot of "gunshot" damages on that inspection report. JHFC!

absolutely amazing. heroes all the way. thanks.

I worked on high voltage lines in 1970s . Loved that work but in 72 working on 110,000 volt lines . Bucket truck we used 90 ft boom. the upper hydrolic cilender came apart .we were about 65 ft high down we came .ended my power line working correr . 2 years getting over that .

I dont understand electricity enough to know whats going on here but this looks crazy. Also how did I get to this side of youtube.

heroes, greats services, congratulations !!

Around 2008 I met a couple of clowns in the DC Beltway who claimed to have something to do with high tension power line maintenance. I mentioned the helicopter platforms and Ferriday suit linemen, and they claimed that was "impossible." LOL

At first I was thinking this doesn’t look like a bad job. Then when those guys had to walk on the lines I was like ok screw that!

Easily some of the best helicopter pilots anywhere. ice water.

8:17 Ok... Most of the stuff these guys do, i would TOTALLY be in on. But this... THIS is where i draw the line.... No pun intended...

this guy's earn their money even if they only work few hour's you need to have big ball to do this work.

Kyle, would love to touch base with you. I worked for Haverfield Helicopters when we began this type.of work! Love your video❣️

If you search the N number of the helicopters you find a little more interesting data. N5035F crashed on 02-DEC-1992 killing the pilot and mechanic. It was judged as pilot error in that his rotor hit a wire. It is a very dangerous profession!

I'd freak! Working at such heights would freak me out enough; working around instant-death high voltage electric would just compound the fear!!!!! LOL

I hear those special Faraday insulation suits cost considerably more than a fine Armani power suit.

Can you imagine holding a 45 minute hover....

These guys have balls of steel.

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The helicopter pilot is worth every dollar he is paid...

I don't know how much they make. But it is not enough.

you guys. are so brave! Alan, U.K.

Beats sitting in a fucking cubicle. This guy probably is quite highly paid, too. Do you trust your buddy who's flying the thing? You better. I can't think of a more cooperative relationship. One false move.... I suppose this is classified as a blue-collar job. Shows how you can make a lot of money DOING STUFF instead of just shuffling papers.

how did they film this? with another helicopter? camera operator has a damn steady hand lmao

Wait a minute...I just saw embedded bullet on the report. You mean I am going out on the line with 765000 volts, and a helicopter blades that might cut me in pieces, and already know someone has been using these lines for target practice. I don't think so, there has to be better ways to make a buck.

Those helicopter pilots are amazing,they don't have balls,they have boulders.

Wow what a job.

Earthed out 40,000 volts with my right leg back in 95. I was OK kept my leg I got lucky.

my teacher showed me this video today in class #CRAZYY... Says they get paid 300-$400 a hour!!! but they only work 6months out of the year

Coolest job ever

Lmfao 8:10 I guess I am going to have lunch on top of a 700,000 volt line lmfao . Christ man these guys are the real thugs in life as they live on the edge every single day and every single minute while up there. Takes some big massive balls to do what these guys do.

Love this video - still!

Helicopters make it look so easy least u don't need to shutdown or divert the line great vid what type ov salary are u guys making??

Should organize all the tools on the guys platform so its not so dangerous! Build little cubby spots foe each tool. Complacency kills!!

Mantap kapan ya linesman indonesia bisa seperti itu

what's with 'gunshots' and 'embedded bullet' on that report? are there people shooting up at these power lines?

7:39 today on computer chronicles

These guys pay check got to be huge

ок , хорошая работа

It's amazing how these guys can even walk. They must have balls the size of Texas.

Makes work easier

They must feel this moment... interesting how its feeling 765k volts.

No truer statement has ever been made!!!!!

Ultra high Voltage, Hights over cables that would destroy that copter if its few feet off cource. even if no voltage. The copters blades making static electicity that can kill hanging out over those wires yea No problem Just hop up on there and go to it.

Hmm if there is potential difference between the lines since its three phase AC, them sitting on the wires literally is shorting the lines together?

That's weird... I haven't heard anyone crying about "equal representation" in this field.

That is enough voltage to pretty much vaporize a person within a few seconds

Heruculan task by the staff of Eleçtricity company and we Indians are yet to use helicopters.

those are great guys

God!!!.. That looks dangerous.

The pilots are shit hot like hats off make ur job much easier

How often is there an "incident"?

Looks like fun but I think I’ll just keep on being a firefighter 👩‍🚒

why is there an arc flash at 2:40? The guy is not connected to the ground, so how can there be current?

When everything is at the same potential , how does this affect the aircraft instrumentation / electrical systems?

Amazing👍

special job, high income

how much does it cost to maintain 1 mile of overhead line?

up there walking on those wires.. Kiss my ass there's not enough money in the world

how much is the maintenance and fuel for the helicopter plus the pilot and the company to come out

7:38 They stole the Computer Chronicles song!

These 760k line runs in front of my my home.its very terrible it even glow the test pen from the ground... Very crazy 👽👽👽

one of the difficult and hazardous job

I bet 100 or 200 years from now they'll be laughing that we even used "lines" to deliver electricity

What is the name and model of the helicopter?

Для чего он туда полез ? У нас никто не ползает по проводам , и всё работает .

They Stole the computer Chronicles theme song @7:38

BALLS!!

Hermenegildo caseres. me gusta

I dont know how much money they make but it is not enough

Why that electric arch between worker's rod and high voltage cable if the helicopter is in the air and does not touch the ground?

In making a PL259 to a coax., I use. Soldier. To make the connection and do not depend on. Cramp or or compression Fittings. I know the crimp is supposed to work. But I want my soldier also. Of course. The PL259. Is supposed to make. They. Shield. Wire. Simply. Touch the. Barrel. Of the plug. Where's the kind of compression that comes from screwing the cable into the plug GE, I do not trust that at all. Imagine in Thailand trying to get. A competent technician. To climb the tower. And repair the coax joint.--- Locally there is one man, Thank goodness.

Замена дистанционных распорок с вертолета ето по моему очень опасно да и денег наверное стоит много

I can't see anything going wrong with this

Make sure you dont covet your pilots wife or daughter in your down time! Just say'n

I’d say more but everyone else has already said it in this thread, what I’m wondering tho, why is this filed under comedy? Also, that awesome “take u straight back” 80’s music was made by Bowie, go figure.

As always, it's about money. What about the cost savings in lives?

i would to know contact of company ...or pilot of helicopter....