Enedis will fly a helicopter over Aveyron’s power lines to control them

The flight over medium voltage lines in South Aveyron has just started and will continue until the end of April before resuming in July. D.R.

The helicopter pilot flies close to the lines to observe any damage. D.R.

Enedis is launching its annual inspection program of the medium voltage (20,000 volts) electricity network in South Aveyron. An operation planned by helicopter from this week in March until the end of April then in July. 

Its presence in the sky does not generally go unnoticed. The sound of the blades which
doesn't get ahead either. It must be said that the maneuvers are spectacular. From high aerobatics to low altitude! Since Monday March 18 and until the end of April before a new wave planned for July, Enedis has undertaken operations to control the Aveyron medium voltage network by helicopter.  

On the program for this spring campaign, more than 2,500 kilometers of lines to inspect. Enedis announces that "all of the department's lines are visited in turn, over a period of three years."

Geotagged photos of anomalies observed

"These aerial control operations of medium voltage electrical lines (20,000 volts) require great dexterity from the pilot of the Héliberté company. In the device, a navigator sets the course and ensures safety, a technical observer takes geolocated photos of the anomalies observed."

Other technical details: "a LIDAR radar system stuck under the’helicopter makes it possible to measure the distance between the vegetation and the line HTA in order to help Enedis in the diagnosis of vegetation to be pruned."

Prior to maintenance operations

Many municipalities in Aveyron will therefore be flown over to identify possible areas of wear, the presence of foreign bodies such as nests or branches, supports in poor condition or vegetation too close to the lines.

"A collection of important information", explains Enedis. "This makes it possible to carry out a precise diagnosis of points of weakness to then target the maintenance and pruning operations to be undertaken.&quot ;

Lists of the communes of South Aveyron which will be flown over by the Enedis helicopter: 

Aguessac, Auriac-Lagast, Ayssènes, Belmont-sur-Rance, Bertholène, Brusque, Camarès, Combret, Compeyre, Lanuéjouls, Le Bas-Ségala, Millau, Monteils, Montlaur , Montpeyroux, Paulhe, Pont-de-Salars, Rebourguil, Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, Saint-Affrique.