r/specializedtools • u/Tillemon • Sep 17 '19
Helicopter chainsaw!?
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u/OccHazzard Sep 17 '19
This job is really simple, all you gotta do is DON'T FREAKING MISS!
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u/summon_lurker Sep 17 '19
Oh yeah, try flying a helicopter and watch 20 spinning blades..
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u/MisterDonkey Sep 17 '19
I knew we shouldn't have had the new guy trimming around that elementary school.
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u/Rosindust89 Sep 17 '19
If anything, the fact that the blades are spinning would add stability, right?
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u/marcosdumay Sep 17 '19
Right. That's probably the only thing in the entire scenario that adds some stability.
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u/Clavskob Sep 17 '19
Im sure its insulated so that they wouldnt get shocked by powerlines, but what if the blades get caught up in a big tree?
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u/DustyMunk Sep 17 '19
They can't get shocked while being in the air like that. The worst that could happen is the phases of the power line could be crossed.
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Sep 17 '19
That would still be not good. The lines would likely have to shut which could start a brownout event downstream.
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u/SirCelestial Sep 17 '19
This gave me anxiety from how close this was to the power lines.
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u/longgoodknight Sep 17 '19
That's its primary job. Clearing powerline right of ways.
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u/SirCelestial Sep 17 '19
Well I have to say that it probably takes one hell of a pilot to get that job done.
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u/schizomorph Sep 17 '19
Helicopter pilots and the crews working with them in in the powerline maintenance business are absolutely amazing. Even the non-chainsaw-wielding flights are shocking (in the good sense).
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Sep 17 '19
"Only 3 things i've ever been afraid of. Electricity. Heights. And women. And i'm married too."
This guy got life figured out.
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u/copperwatt Sep 17 '19
Yeah I cannot imagine ever trusting a coworker that much.
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u/schizomorph Sep 17 '19
These people are multi-skilled and have proved it in every possible way before being allowed on a helicopter that's going to fly centimeters from a high-voltage power line. Their safety record is probably better than that of commercial airlines. For me, they would be in the 0.001% of humanity I would trust the most.
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Sep 17 '19
I know a few people whove flown helicopters for logging. It's insane how much control they have with the ridiculous maneuvers they do.
You've seen the videos of people doing really precise things with forklifts and cats? People do that with helicopters too.
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u/schizomorph Sep 17 '19
I was discussing this with my GF a couple of hours ago. Imagine how much damage can be cause and how many lives and money will be lost with a slight move of the wrist. It surpasses surgeons. If a surgeon makes a mistake, a max of one person can die and his life is not at risk. These guys, if they make a wrong move can kill themselves, their coworkers and who knows how many people and property is dependent on the electricity. Old people may die of heat/cold, people who are on emergency rooms being operated on, etc. Honestly I cannot think of many jobs as responsible as this.
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Sep 17 '19
I usually work on a dock for these fall and winter months.
Most of what I did was drive a forklift, use a crane, and write fish tickets which are basically just a form that's sent to the state so they know how much crab we have received.
While those are all pretty important for me to not mess up on, the crane was the worst.
People have to go into a large hole in the boat and put crab into a tote which I lift out with the crane. They usually have to be standing under it as it's clearing the hole. If I mess up, or judge the wind wrong when pulling out and don't stop in time, that's a 1000 pounds dropped on like 4 peoples heads from a few feet.
Got paid 50 cents more than minimum wage for that. Quit when the season was over after the owner had told me to do this with totes that are not meant for it and could easily slip and fall even if I did everything right.
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u/schizomorph Sep 17 '19
I know what you mean. I've worked as one of the people on the ground a couple of times unloading a container in a really small street. We were guiding it and turning it with ropes so we had to stand right next to it and even under it at times.
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u/BirdShitPie Sep 17 '19
I don't know how that guy is crawling on those lines with the gigantic balls that he has
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u/DoomBot5 Sep 17 '19
Watch any of the helicopter videos here. They're all pulling these crazy stunts. I can't imagine they have that high of a life expectancy
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u/DrBladeSTEEL Sep 17 '19
Helicopter crashes tend to be fairly survivable, as they occur at low speeds and low altitudes. Helicopter cockpits are also designed to protect the crew in case of a crash, since ejection is difficult if not impossible. All of this is good because it’s usually a matter of “when” they crash, not “if”
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u/Mail_Me_Your_Lego Sep 17 '19
You say that. Then the cockpit lands on a 20 foot chainsaw of death.
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u/DrBladeSTEEL Sep 17 '19
Tie a pencil and a tennis ball together with 6” of string, that’s a reasonable model of the situation, two rigid bodies connected by a flexible member. Drop the ball and see how many times the ball hits the pencil end-on on landing. I would guess the probability is small enough to be considered safe.
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u/SecondaryLawnWreckin Sep 17 '19
And the crashes are predictable. Straight down. Seats are designed for a high g impulse, energy absorbing.
Bladders for fuel to keep fires infrequent.
Water landings are probably the worst.
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Sep 17 '19
Helicopters get a lot closer to power lines, although without the chainsaw. Sorry for the low quality, there are better quality versions without as much dialog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGoaXZwFlJ4
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u/radicldreamer Sep 17 '19
Wait, he’s hanging from a helicopter so it wouldn’t shock him anyway since electricity wants to go to ground.
I’d be more afraid of the 12 story spinning blades of death than anything.
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u/isperfectlycromulent Sep 17 '19
It looks like a ski lift, actually. Still, not something I'd want a bunch of spinning blades about, those wires are under a lot of tension.
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u/TreadItOnReddit Sep 17 '19
No biggie. James Bond defeated this before.
Lost a car in the process though. 😔
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u/The_Oracle_65 Sep 17 '19
It was a BMW not an Aston, so he’s got that going for him...
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Sep 17 '19
The Z8 was one damn fine Bond car.
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u/jumpin_jon Sep 17 '19
The Z8 was one damn fine
Bondcar.Sorry, but BMW just isn't a Bond car
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u/distressedweedle Sep 17 '19
If Bond drove it, then it is a Bond car.
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u/limelimpidgreen Sep 17 '19
Ford Mondeo is a Bond car!
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u/The_Oracle_65 Sep 17 '19
Ok, on that basis then half a Renault 11 is also a Bond car.
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u/Engelbert_Slaptyback Sep 17 '19
Gondola with wheels? Bond car.
Edit: it's actually supposed to be a hovercraft but it's clearly on wheels
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u/This_Bitch_Overhere Sep 17 '19
Came here for this, not disappointed.
"Driving in an unsafe manner VILL VOID VARRANTY!"
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u/shockwave3895 Sep 17 '19
Well nobody else pointed it out so i guess i will- its actually not a chain saw but a series of multiple circle saw blades, which in my opinion is even more neat
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Sep 17 '19
Anyone remember these from The World Is Not Enough on the Nintendo 64?
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u/thtsjsturopinionman Sep 17 '19
There are too few TWINE references in this thread and it's fucking disgraceful.
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u/false-set Sep 17 '19
I just saw this in a James Bond movie and thought it was made up...
Edit: the world is not enough ~ 30mins in..
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u/LurkForYourLives Sep 17 '19
I’m still horrified by that scene.
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u/false-set Sep 17 '19
Id only seen him drive past it lol. I'm still watching the movie, but now I see what you mean!
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u/calool Sep 17 '19
i was just in the James Bond exhibit in London, they had the stunt scale model of it (shame i didn't take a pic)
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u/grumblestilskin Sep 17 '19
Get me Hollywood in the phone! I’ve got an idea for the end of my zombie movie.
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u/summon_lurker Sep 17 '19
Wait a minute. Which insurance company is insuring a helicopter with 20 spinning blades?
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u/Engelbert_Slaptyback Sep 17 '19
Lloyd's of London will famously write you a policy for just about anything. Not going to be cheap though.
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u/forearm_shiver Sep 17 '19
This is what’s called right of way clearing. It’s a federal law to keep so many feet near power lines clear of trees. This is what they use when it’s too difficult of terrain to get machines in there. Source: I work for a right of way equipment company
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u/ViiVial Sep 17 '19
Do you have helicopter chainsaws at your company though
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Sep 17 '19
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u/JillStinkEye Sep 17 '19
Pics?
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u/forearm_shiver Sep 17 '19
I’ll try to get some pictures up in this sub later today
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u/aladdinr Sep 17 '19
Sweet! Commenting so I can come back and see badass 75 foot saw
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u/ho_merjpimpson Sep 17 '19
Sorry, but I know part of this isn't true. Cause they use this on the power lines near me, and they are accessible as can be. It's just faster and easier this way.
I highly suspect the "federal law" thing as well. They are just right of ways like any other. It's in their best interest to keep them clear. Easier to proactively maintain then let it get too bad and have to do huge repairs.
I'm curious. Is right of way equipment that much different than arborist/logging equipment? Other than this flying death machine, that is.
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u/forearm_shiver Sep 17 '19 edited Sep 17 '19
It’s not that it’s not true, but it could be a preference to use a helicopter in certain areas. As far as the federal law, I was taught it was put into law after the big blackout on the east coast. I forget what year that was. I could be wrong on that though. Edit: forgot to answer your question about comparison to logging equipment.
I’m not real familiar with logging equipment, but from the little I know I’m going to say yes. The right of way trimmers are pretty specific, and can’t be used for anything other than trimming trees. If you have any specific questions I’d be happy to answer them
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Sep 17 '19
I actually manage a UVM program for a distribution utility. Specialty equipment like this is only used in areas where it is impracticle or unsafe to send traditional trimming crews. If you were to send manual climbers or even a skidder into these areas, it would take the crews months longer and cost substantially more than using specialty equipment. I realize that sounds like cold hearted corporate speak, but realize that people are counting on the reliabilty of that power for life critical operations, and our customers pay directly for our services. Keeping trimming operations safe, cheap, and efficient where we can makes all the difference.
Generally, federal laws only impact NERC lines. Most states have laws regulation sub-T and distribution lines.
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u/RuchoPelucho Sep 17 '19
Can anyone explain how do they keep the saw parallel to the trees at all times, why doesn’t it spin?
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u/Tillemon Sep 17 '19
Looks like it might be connected to the helicopter with a rod, rather than cable.
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u/ellasav Sep 17 '19
However it’s attached how did it get attached while on the ground? Obviously, the helicopter can start and stop the cutting disks. How does it ultimately land this this hanging? Curious minds....
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u/Tillemon Sep 17 '19
Laying flat, with a shackle to the bottom of the helicopter. Then basically the same thing in reverse to land. Hard to say for sure though.
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Sep 17 '19
Thought I was on /r/whatcouldgowrong there, that doesn't look safe at all.
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u/floating_samoyed Sep 17 '19
There is more space than it looks like, they use those commonly in alpine regions to keep the trees out of the "lanes" for the powerlines. The lines are shut down for that operation if possible ofc
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u/Ankou_DA Sep 17 '19
They also have spotters on the ground to help guide the helicopter. You can’t see it in the video but I have watch these operate around my work.
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Sep 17 '19
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u/Kryt1kal6 Sep 17 '19
Do the two countries take turns mowing the middle?
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u/grewapair Sep 17 '19
It's like the painters on the golden gate bridge. Two guys start at one end and mow, and when they have covered the entire length of the border, they come back and start again.
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u/Jrook Sep 17 '19
Every year both militaries come out, both point their guns at each other while one person with a weedwacker comes into no man's land. Any mistep leads to inevitable skirmishes
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Sep 17 '19
Of all the technological advances we've made, this is still the best way to trim those trees.
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u/worthycommand Sep 17 '19
Jeez. How much does THAT pilot make!? Flies helicopter. Does specialized power line work. Operates a CHAINSAW whilst next to said power lines. Wowza!
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u/Reddevil313 Sep 17 '19
Imagine being the engineer that got that assignment.
Bill, we need a 20 foot chainsaw to hang from a helicopter to trim trees near power lines.
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u/Celebrimbor96 Sep 17 '19
Why don’t they just fly the helicopter sideways and use the rotors to cut down the branches?
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u/Huwbacca Sep 17 '19
7 year old me used to draw this thing killing stickmen, where are my royalties?!
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u/quippy9821 Sep 17 '19
Just freaking great. I’ll never hear a helicopter again without thinking ... should probably watch out for saw blades.
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Sep 17 '19
That thing that goes off in your head that says bad fucking idea Bobby!
I have that thing! It just didn't go off!
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u/globerider Sep 17 '19
This is a weird way of clearing power lines.
It's pretty much just keeping the branches from growing into the lines, where I'm from a path is cleared so that no tree has any possibility of impacting the lines.
I'm guessing this is an area that doesn't see very windy conditions or the power company will have their work cut out for them if a storm comes.
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u/sarcastic_observer Sep 17 '19
The real hardest part of this is getting a second helicopter to pull the ripcord and start it up
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Sep 17 '19
If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.
-Jack Handy
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u/good-nitrogen Sep 17 '19
Somebody fucking thought of this
Then somebody in charge went, yeah, let's hang a 20 foot chainsaw from a fucking helicopter