When we need to check a large section of our overhead network, the safest and quickest way to do this is by helicopter.
Last week, working with a specialist team from PDG Aviation Services, we carried out a three-day line patrol which surveyed around 11,000 of our wooden poles and overhead lines in the north and west of Shetland, as well as the outer isles.
This aerial assessment of our infrastructure provided us with a bird’s eye view of all the network that had been repaired in the aftermath of December’s snow storm, as well as checking on sections that are located in the more remote and inaccessible parts of the island.
We got special access to one of the patrol flights last week, giving us a unique angle on some of the most remote sections of SSEN Distribution’s entire infrastructure, as well as seeing how PDG’s tablet-based technology provides instant feedback on the network to our teams on the ground.
Click on our two videos below to see and hear more about last week on Shetland, the important role that these patrols can play in the immediate aftermath of a major weather event and also a look at the technology that’s being used.
We’d also like to extend a big thank you to Brian, Simon and Billy from PDG for all their help when we were shooting our footage last week.
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