Helicopter airborne services live line work

For many years the helicopter has been used as an auxiliary aid in the construction and maintenance of electric lines. Since 1988, helicopters´ technical abilities have widened the aeronautical field of activities. EDF-STH (Services et Travaux Heliportes) has thus developed methods and material to perform maintenance work on EDF electric cables, on dead and more particularly an live lines. Linemen work from a bucket suspended under the helicopter by slings; and in the case of live work, insulating ropes are used. EDF-STH, in close collaboration with a number of aeronautical specialists, have studied the specific conditions of use of the helicopter (the helicopter type, the Aviation Regulations, the aircraft´s behaviour in the case of engine failure, or when it is connected (or not) to a live line, the safeguard clauses analysis, etc.). All the regulations controlling the live line work (safety clearance in the case of air splitting) have been and still remain under the supervision of the French Live Working Committee and of the SERECT Department. New methods have been developed keeping in mind permanently STH´s three mottoes : safety, accuracy and efficiency. A better availability of the network is insured and EDF´s service quality is improved. These methods are also profitable