# does the power company use helicopters to look at powerlines? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [September 8, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208 "2009-09-08T13:07:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Karter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@Karter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Karter)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/1 "2009-09-08T13:07:40Z")
I’m in town of niagara at a friends house and I see a black helicopter (regular not like military or anything) flying as slow as possible over by the power lines, really low. I heard it and the noise didnt go away, so I was like WTF. I assume its looking at powerlines on the big silver power pole/ tower looking things. Just odd I havent seen a copter flying this low that slow. its all black, If it comes back to this end I’ll snag a picture. pics on post 20 updated 2011. loll ---
**Author:** ![mike125k](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mike125k/32/7282_2.png) [@mike125k](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/mike125k)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/2 "2009-09-08T13:23:28Z")
Don’t know if they have one in WNY. But yes, there are power companies in the US that use helicopters for line work, its not terribly uncommon. ---
**Author:** ![EvilJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a5b964/32.png) [@EvilJay](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/EvilJay)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/3 "2009-09-08T13:27:09Z")
:tinfoilhat: ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/4 "2009-09-08T13:27:40Z")
yes they do… ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/5 "2009-09-08T13:28:46Z")
yes… my dad works for the county and they use them pretty often too when they look at damage or do surveys… ---
**Author:** ![TrueBlue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/trueblue/32/7245_2.png) [@TrueBlue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TrueBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/6 "2009-09-08T13:30:06Z")
They also check rail lines, too. I’ve seen them “strafe” the tracks in the Southtowns for miles. ---
**Author:** ![LXIFLYBY](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lxiflyby/32/7399_2.png) [@LXIFLYBY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LXIFLYBY)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/7 "2009-09-08T13:40:24Z")
yes, usually to look at transmission lines. Somtimes they use infrared cams to look for hotspots in the wire or connectors that are about to fail ---
**Author:** ![00Audi00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/7ab992/32.png) [@00Audi00](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/00Audi00)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/8 "2009-09-08T13:54:20Z")
I know of a company out of Hamburg that performs power line patrols as well as many other helicopter related services. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/9 "2009-09-08T13:58:13Z")
like this: ---
**Author:** ![Minglor](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/minglor/32/7373_2.png) [@Minglor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Minglor)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/10 "2009-09-08T14:14:12Z")
Yeah…Looking at power lines…That’s the ticket ---
**Author:** ![sickboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ea924/32.png) [@sickboy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/sickboy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/11 "2009-09-08T16:27:50Z")
They fly by the big power lines in Cheektowaga all the time. That black helicopter is bad-ass looking too. I always expect them to land and come out wearing black suits and dark glasses. Hasn’t happened yet thankfully. ---
**Author:** ![Vrooom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vrooom/32/7198_2.png) [@Vrooom](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vrooom)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/12 "2009-09-08T16:38:24Z")
Phew. Good to know. I was getting all tinfoil hat one day when I walked out my front door to see a black chopper practically smack dab in my face hovering in front of my house…like he was staring right at me. Makes sense after reading this because there was a big ol’ power tower a few houses away. ---
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/13 "2009-09-08T18:19:11Z")
> [@theblue](#): > > like this: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKCWAL4y38U&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKCWAL4y38U&feature=related) Came in here to post that. What a crazy job. ---
**Author:** ![TMAN1985](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tman1985/32/5408_2.png) [@TMAN1985](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TMAN1985)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/14 "2009-09-08T18:26:07Z")
Yes, That black helicopter is owned by National Grid, and they were were all of the area just north of Niagara Falls Airport today. They do it usually monthly. I was talking to them today. ---
**Author:** ![TMAN1985](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tman1985/32/5408_2.png) [@TMAN1985](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TMAN1985)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/15 "2009-09-08T18:26:59Z")
> [@sickboy](#): > > They fly by the big power lines in Cheektowaga all the time. That black helicopter is bad-ass looking too. I always expect them to land and come out wearing black suits and dark glasses. Hasn’t happened yet thankfully. And actually they do wear black flight suits, and black helmets. Its a male and female team. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Russian](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/the_russian/32/7414_2.png) [@The\_Russian](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/The_Russian)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/16 "2009-09-08T22:08:20Z")
There are several black helos in the area. One is for the national grid, one is run by CSX for the rail lines and the other is run by a joint effort of Erie and Niagara County Sheriff departments to spot Marijuana feilds from the air. (my uncle pilots this one) ---
**Author:** ![dirtye30](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dirtye30/32/7333_2.png) [@dirtye30](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dirtye30)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/17 "2009-09-09T13:32:42Z")
> [@The\_Russian](#): > > There are several black helos in the area. > > One is for the national grid, one is run by CSX for the rail lines and the other is run by a joint effort of Erie and Niagara County Sheriff departments to spot Marijuana feilds from the air. (my uncle pilots this one) youre uncle sucks. advise him to quit. ---
**Author:** ![Firehawk853](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/firehawk853/32/7607_2.png) [@Firehawk853](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Firehawk853)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/18 "2009-09-09T13:38:40Z")
I would love to have that job ---
**Author:** ![bbyevo8](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bbyevo8/32/5330_2.png) [@bbyevo8](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bbyevo8)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/19 "2009-09-09T13:40:43Z")
> [@dirtye30](#): > > youre uncle sucks. advise him to quit. +1, or at least have him give a heads up before they bring the law down on the plots :snky: ---
**Author:** ![Karter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@Karter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Karter)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 12:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/20 "2011-09-15T12:08:01Z")
okay so I didnt realize I posted this thread 2 years ago. I musta missed it last year, because its the same time of the year and the helicopter is back. Now the area its on is like a trail, has powerlines, vegitation etc. I snagged a few pics thru the screen has it hovered right across the way from my house. Its fucking annoying as it hovers for several minutes in one spot before it moves like 10 feet. ![http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj47/billkarter/CIMG2416.jpg](http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj47/billkarter/CIMG2416.jpg) ![http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj47/billkarter/CIMG2417.jpg](http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj47/billkarter/CIMG2417.jpg) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208.md?page=2)