Drone stringing and heavy-lift UAV systems are moving from trials to real-world deployment. Recent projects have used drones to place pilot lines over long corridors and environmentally sensitive areas — reducing the need for helicopters.

Use cases and benefits
• Pilot line placement in remote or environmentally protected zones.
• Long-span pilot line installation where ground access is limited.
• Combined inspection and stringing workflows that reduce crew time.

Integration with conventional equipment
Drones are best viewed as complementary — placing pilot wires and performing inspection/measurement tasks while pullers and OHTLstringingequipment.com/Hydraulic-Conductor-Tensioners.html target='_blank'>Tensioners perform precise conductor installation and takeup. Contractors must adapt logistics, safety planning, and training to integrate UAV operations.

Regulation & safety
Operators must comply with local BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) and heavy-lift UAV regulations. Recent publicized projects provide useful operational templates for contractors planning drone-assisted stringing.