Usually when people start to see helicopters flying low in their neighborhood they start to worry. Just what is going on? What are they looking for? Get ready to see some of this type of activity later this month and next.

What's going on? ITC Michigan, an electricity transmission company, will be inspecting their high-voltage transmission structures and lines from May 17 to June 17 here in the state. To inspect the lines they use helicopters! You will see these aircraft flying low near the lines so they can see the equipment and inspect it. There are 8,700 miles of lines for crews to inspect in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.

Crews are looking for damaged or worn equipment and any vegetation that could create a hazard. They will be inspecting steel towers, wood poles, wires, insulators and more during these flights. These inspections are weather dependent.

Here are the scheduled dates for these low flying helicopter inspections in the state:

May 17-19: Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties

May 20-25: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties

May 28-June 4: Clinton, Genesee, Gratiot, Huron, Ingham, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Midland, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair and Tuscola counties

June 7-10: Clinton, Gratiot, Isabella, Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Ottawa counties

June 11-17: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford counties

They will be flying around west Michigan a couple of times. First May 20th-25th and again June 7th-10th.

Don't worry about constructing that aluminum foil hat. The government isn't spying on you. You are safe. It's just an inspection of power lines. And, for geeks like me, a chance to see helicopters flying low to the ground!

 

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