# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/21 "2011-09-15T12:14:33Z")
shoot at it ---
**Author:** ![Muckman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@Muckman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Muckman)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/22 "2011-09-15T12:46:02Z")
![http://www.pollsb.com/photos/o/28379-yes_nbsp_don_tin_foil_hat.jpg](http://www.pollsb.com/photos/o/28379-yes_nbsp_don_tin_foil_hat.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/23 "2011-09-15T12:50:02Z")
They use heat sensitive cameras to capture hotspots and future problems in the lines. Its actually pretty cool. oh, and I’m going to start selling mil-spec tin foil hats. Anyone in? ---
**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 15, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/24 "2011-09-15T12:57:35Z")
Buy a green laser pointer at it and start aiming at it. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/25 "2011-09-15T13:03:59Z")
People grow weed on powerline property to avoid arrest. That is what they are looking for… profit. lol ---
**Author:** ![Jskrapper](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jskrapper/32/7570_2.png) [@Jskrapper](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jskrapper)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/26 "2011-09-15T13:08:19Z")
![http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b112/Jskrapper/1245228211_axe_vs_helicopter.gif](http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b112/Jskrapper/1245228211_axe_vs_helicopter.gif) …profit? He was near Englewood and Parker on Monday. I thought it was cool. ---
**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, 3:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/27 "2011-09-15T15:06:16Z")
> [@Blue Eyed Devil](#): > > People grow weed on powerline property to avoid arrest. That is what they are looking for… profit. lol I was thinking drugs / feds looking for drugs etc, but it dosent seem hugely likely in suberbia, its my uncles house in town of niagara just off the edge of lewiston. > [@Jskrapper](#): > > ![http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b112/Jskrapper/1245228211_axe_vs_helicopter.gif](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/d/b/dbd6eabb24db6f1ae25cfc9ff66ee96d32ddf8d5.gif) > …profit? > > He was near Englewood and Parker on Monday. I thought it was cool. lol gif, and the same copter? yeah its odd, because it hovers so low and its loud. I thought it was funny that I was looking thru like one pulled down blind :snky: and the copter started moving then turned to face me for like 2 minutes before I took the picture, then It flew away haha. ---
**Author:** ![gt08vapor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@gt08vapor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/gt08vapor)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/28 "2011-09-15T15:23:11Z")
That helicopter belongs to the niagara county sheriff’s. They are looking for drugs more than likley. ---
**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, 7:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/29 "2011-09-15T19:34:46Z")
> [@gt08vapor](#): > > That helicopter belongs to the niagara county sheriff’s. They are looking for drugs more than likley. good to know. tho this area expecially right in there, would be the last place id ever plant weed if I ever planted weed lol. the trooper barraks is literally 2 minutes away at 30 mph lol. ---
**Author:** ![95dime](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/95dime/32/7514_2.png) [@95dime](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/95dime)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/30 "2011-09-15T20:21:23Z")
we get helecopters flying down the runways and in the fields behind my house, its the sherrif they look for weed. its pretty sweet when theyre on the runways, they go the length of it like 25ft off the ground lol ---
**Author:** ![Jskrapper](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jskrapper/32/7570_2.png) [@Jskrapper](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jskrapper)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/31 "2011-09-16T07:50:47Z")
That is NOT a State Police Heli and probably not Sheriff either. I’m 98% sure it’s Nat Grid. NYS police use strictly Bell helis. What you and I saw is what looked like a MD500. Nat grid uses the MD500’s for most of their emergencies or line scanning. Cheap, agile, and 5 blade head gives great stability. Stock photo of NG line scanner heli. ![http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b112/Jskrapper/540381_1.jpg](http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b112/Jskrapper/540381_1.jpg) I actually thought it was a smaller and cheaper R22 when I first saw it hovering above NAPA. This got me nervous since anyone can pretty much get into one of those with little to no money and or experience while they are hard to fly since they are rather unstable with low weight and 2 blade rotor head. ---
**Author:** ![gt08vapor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@gt08vapor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/gt08vapor)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 7:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/32 "2011-09-16T07:53:21Z")
The local sheriffs for niagra county use them. They use it for drug search. ---
**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 16, 2011, 7:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/33 "2011-09-16T07:57:58Z")
> [@Jskrapper](#): > > That is NOT a State Police Heli and probably not Sheriff either. I’m 98% sure it’s Nat Grid. NYS police use strictly Bell helis. > > What you and I saw is what looked like a MD500. Nat grid uses the MD500’s for most of their emergencies or line scanning. Cheap, agile, and 5 blade head gives great stability. > > Stock photo of NG line scanner heli. > > I actually thought it was a smaller and cheaper R22 when I first saw it hovering above NAPA. This got me nervous since anyone can pretty much get into one of those with little to no money and or experience while they are hard to fly since they are rather unstable with low weight and 2 blade rotor head. ---
**Author:** ![Jskrapper](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jskrapper/32/7570_2.png) [@Jskrapper](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jskrapper)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/34 "2011-09-16T08:22:38Z")
> [@gt08vapor](#): > > The local sheriffs for niagra county use them. They use it for drug search. Well they don’t want the public to know then. > The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit consists of Bell Jet Ranger helicopters, four pilots and eight tactical flight officers. The unit performs aviation operations in support of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and local police agencies. Typical operations include drug interdiction, search and rescue operations and aerial surveillance. Unit members must pass flight physicals and be trained in a wide variety of equipment that is used during the normal unit operations. > The Bell Jet Ranger helicopters were supplied to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office through Project Northstar and are equipped with Night Sun spotlights. These spotlights are rated at 30 million candlepower. The unit is expecting to add forward looking infra-red (FLIR) systems to the helicopters in the near future. The FLIR night vision system works off body heat and acts as a video camera day and night. This equipment would be useful for locating lost people and fleeing subjects. That is not what we saw. ---
**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 16, 2011, 8:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/35 "2011-09-16T08:36:47Z")
This thread reminds me of SimCopter ![http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/Simcopter_box_cover.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/Simcopter_box_cover.jpg) > **[SimCopter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimCopter)** > > SimCopter is a 1996 flight simulator video game, developed by Maxis. It puts the player into a 3D city. Like Streets of SimCity, SimCopter lets the user import SimCity 2000 maps into the game. It is also the first game to use the Sim language Simlish. SimCopter puts the player in the role of a helicopter pilot. There are two modes of play: user mode and career mode. The user mode (free mode) lets the player fly around cities that they have created (which can be imported from SimCity 2000) or an... ---
**Author:** ![gt08vapor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@gt08vapor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/gt08vapor)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 8:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/36 "2011-09-16T08:57:25Z")
> [@Jskrapper](#): > > Well they don’t want the public to know then. > > That is not what we saw. It is not advertised the have the black one. The very much so have one, and use it more than you would think. ---
**Author:** ![pirite](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pirite/32/5308_2.png) [@pirite](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/pirite)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/37 "2011-09-16T09:24:10Z")
> [@boxxa](#): > > This thread reminds me of SimCopter > > ![http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/Simcopter_box_cover.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/9/b/9ba244740f2c8320025744f4a71b06dd51d576b1.jpeg) > [SimCopter - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimCopter) i still have this game laying around somewhere. I’M THE CEO OF MCDONNELL DOUGLAS = all copters lol ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 9:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/38 "2011-09-16T09:29:10Z")
> [@gt08vapor](#): > > It is not advertised the have the black one. The very much so have one, and use it more than you would think. sounds like a conspiracy…do they use it to watch me pee? ---
**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 16, 2011, 9:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/39 "2011-09-16T09:31:57Z")
> [@pirite](#): > > i still have this game laying around somewhere. > I’M THE CEO OF MCDONNELL DOUGLAS = all copters lol Hahah ya! I have it on CD at home with my SimFarm, SimAnt, SimCity, SimCity 2000, SimEarth collectors pack from like 1998 ---
**Author:** ![gt08vapor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@gt08vapor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/gt08vapor)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 10:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208/40 "2011-09-16T10:21:05Z")
> [@boardjnky4](#): > > sounds like a conspiracy…do they use it to watch me pee? They might. Plus all the snky unmarked cars. O shit! we should all start wearing foil hats. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/does-the-power-company-use-helicopters-to-look-at-powerlines/73208.md?page=1)