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Bell Helicopter User Report

Helicopter Reduces
Transmission Line
Inspection Time

Report on: New Jersey Power & Light
Denville, New Jersey
As Appeared in September, 1960
TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION

USE OF A PINT-SIZE portable voice recorder as a helicopter has enabled New Jersey Power and Light Company to drastically reduce the time required for regular monthly inspections of its 143 mile, 115-kv transmission line. Now it is possible to accomplish a far more thorough and intense inspection of these lines in a few hours instead of days, previously required by foot patrol. 

With general offices located in Denville, some 20 miles northwest of Newark, the company supplies electricity to all northwestern New Jersey. Its territory, comprising 23.1 per cent of the state's area, covers 1,728 square miles and has an estimated population of 290,000.

Traveling across rugged terrain in all kinds of weather, a team of two linemen would take ten full days to patrol on foot the length of the transmission line. Handwritten notes were taken of the potential trouble spots which were revealed by their inspection. Even with this close, but time-consuming and laborious check, a broken insulator could be missed because it could not be seen from the ground. 

Since last July, the inspections have been conducted by a pilot-lineman team which, once a month leaves the Morristown Municipal Airport in a chartered helicopter. Flying low and slowly along the line, the lineman can voice-record any damage on the magnetic tape without having to take his eyes off the lien to make hand notes— and he can do it in far less time than it would take with pencil and paper. It now requires only six to seven hours, spread over two days, instead of the former ten full days to complete the inspection. 

A single magazine of the magnetic tapes is sufficient to record damage observed during an end-to-end-of-the line patrol. When it has been completed the lineman settles down at a desk, adjusts the recorder for a playback, and transfers his observations to the paper form used for inspection reports. Trouble in deciphering handwritten notes made under difficult conditions has been eliminated.

OVER

[[2 images]]
Combined use of voice recorder and Bell helicopter reduces 143-mile, 115-kv transmission line inspection from days to hours. Team consists of pilot and lineman.

Traveling at transmission line level, helicopter inspection team covers NJP&L's facilities in seven hours. Ground transportation methods required 10 days for same job.