Helicopter stringing has become a transformative technique in modern transmission line construction, particularly for challenging projects:

• Utilization: Helicopters are primarily used for:

  • Pilot Line Installation: This is the most common application. A lightweight pilot line (often a synthetic rope) is attached to the helicopter and flown from one tower to the next, quickly establishing the initial connection across spans, especially over rough terrain, dense forests, or bodies of water. This eliminates the need for extensive ground clearing or ground crews crossing difficult areas.

  • OHTLstringingequipment.com/Conductor-Stringing-Equipment.html target='_blank'>conductor stringing (Less Common, but Growing): In some specialized cases, heavier pulling ropes or even conductors themselves can be pulled directly by helicopters, especially for critical river crossings or environmentally sensitive areas where ground-based equipment is highly restricted.

  • Tower Erection (Helicopter Cranes): Beyond stringing, heavy-lift helicopters (skycranes) are used to lift and set large transmission tower sections or even entire towers in remote or inaccessible locations, significantly speeding up construction.

• Advantages:

  • Speed & Efficiency: Dramatically reduces the time required to string lines over long distances and difficult terrain.

  • Reduced Environmental Impact: Minimizes ground disturbance, avoids clearing wide rights-of-way, and protects sensitive ecosystems.

  • Safety: Reduces exposure of ground crews to hazardous terrain, eliminates the need for personnel to climb towers to install initial pilot lines.

  • Overcoming Obstacles: Bypasses rivers, valleys, mountains, and dense urban areas where traditional methods are impractical or impossible.

• Limitations:

  • High Cost: Helicopter operations are expensive due to fuel, maintenance, and specialized pilot expertise.

  • Weather Dependent: Highly susceptible to wind, fog, and precipitation, which can cause significant delays.

  • Noise & Disturbance: Can generate significant noise in populated areas, leading to community complaints.

  • Limited Lifting Capacity: While heavy-lift helicopters exist, there is still a limit to the weight and size of conductors or tower sections they can handle in one go.

While our company specializes in ground-based tension Stringing Equipment, we fully support projects that leverage helicopter stringing for pilot lines, as it often forms the crucial first step before our hydraulic pullers and Tensioners take over to install the main conductors with precision and safety.