PG&E Uses 'Heli-Saw' to Prune Hard-To-Reach Mendonoma Trees

Healdsburg CA

10 December, 2020

7:14 PM

Description

FORT ROSS, CA — Pacific Gas and Electric Company is flying a helicopter saw this month along electric transmission lines in Sonoma and Mendocino counties as part of its work to enhance the safety and reliability of its transmission system along the North Coast, according to a news release. A helicopter saw — or "heli-saw" — is a series of vertically positioned 30-inch diameter circular saws suspended from a high-performance helicopter used to trim the sides of trees near high-voltage power lines. PG&E uses the heli-saw in remote areas that are hard for climbing crews to reach. It is a safe and efficient way to prune trees in areas where snow and muddy roads make safe vehicular access a challenge, PG&E says. "The heli-saw is a fast, efficient way to obtain necessary clearances and reduce storm-caused outages, especially in areas of dense coniferous forests," said Mark Stewart, PG&E's vegetation management supervisor for this program. The work in Sonoma County began Monday and was expected to continue through Friday. PG&E expects the job to continue throughout the month of December along 46 miles of power line corridors and rights of way along the North Coast, from Fort Ross in Sonoma County north to Gualala, Elk and Fort Bragg in Mendocino County. Customers in or near the work areas received a letter or automated phone call advising them about the project, PG&E's North Coast Spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said. Before beginning the pruning, the helicopter, a four-passenger A Star, did an initial flyover of the transmission line without the saw to review terrain, roads, creeks and other general avoidance areas, Contreras said. Since starting the pruning Monday, the helicopter has been flying slowly at a low altitude with the heli-saw suspended, she said. Both the helicopter and the heli-saw will fly Monday through Sunday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Up to 2-3 miles of a corridor can be pruned in one day. "This is the first time we've used this particular piece of equipment in Sonoma County," Contreras said.