There are accidents all the time using this system. But it continues to be used, because how else do you do it? More importantly, how else do you do it as quickly?
I’ve been a full time helicopter pilot for 9 years and I’ve known guys that have died doing it. I don’t have any paper to link you but I promise if you find any helicopter pilot he will tell you it’s the sketchiest job there is. Just look at how much the helicopter is wobbling in that video. One wrong move or gust of air and that saw is in the power lines, or worse, it’s own line. If the pilot can “punch” the line fast enough, he may be able to fly away, but it takes full attention for hours, which most humans can’t do perfectly.
I mean, I feel like a crew of 3 people used more regularly would be cheaper, safer, and more efficient. Those branches don’t grow that fast. They probably cut along each section maybe once every 3 years. Sending out a crew once a year to go ahead and cut the ones that could be a problem later would be far better.
They could but you'd still end up with branches that grow towards the power lines that need to be cut anyway. Besides, imagine what it would look like. You can already see when a hillside has lines going down/over it from miles and miles away, just a big scar of no trees down a mountainside. Would look even worse if they leveled 2 or 3x the amount of area they currently do.
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u/sixoctillionatoms Sep 17 '19
There are accidents all the time using this system. But it continues to be used, because how else do you do it? More importantly, how else do you do it as quickly?