Don't knock it until you have worked it. WE (us lineman take are job to heart) that means keeping the power on for you folks, So remember us on that rainy night or that hot day when we risk everything for you. Power to the trade!!
Thanks greateyes for the work you do. Never knew lineman had to do work "this unusual and dangerous." It certainly isn't an occupation suitable for a "hotdog." The footage is very educational. I get sweaty palms simply watching the video since I have a fear of height. Couldn't even go close to the edge of the Grand Canyon. I guess you wouldn't recommend me for this line of work, uh?
I too am a lineman from Atl. GA One person refused to believe we do this type of work and even thought it is trick photography. I caan assure you that THIS IS REAL!!! BTW, in America, we call ourselves and each other LINEMAN!
Do not overlook the skills of the helicopter pilot. The guy piloting the helicopter has extraordinary skills. I used to be a helicopter pilot and of all the pilots I knew only a very small percentage would have been able to hold the helicopter at such a steady hover at such a high altitude.
Crossbow36
Not to belittle this fellows piloting skills in the slighest, the high speed four bladed main rotors, the gyros and all the technology of today make flying chopers nothing like the the Bells and Huey's of the late 60's and early 70's.
Except for the wind, (gusts), these baby's stick where you put them like they're stuck in cement. Try to hook up a ride in something from the mid 90's on and you'll be hooked all over again.
WOW.. Hats off to both, the Electricians, and the Helicopter pilots!!!!!
That could be quite and experience for both!!! Thanks for the "POWER" for all the modern items we depend upon today. Nothing like what it was years ago!
The helicopter in this film is an MD500D. Produced most likely in the 70's. Most companies doing power line support use them because they are small, some what powerfull and very maneuverable. There is no fancy technology in them. FYI, the UH-1 Huey was made by Bell Helicopter, a Textron company. As for hovering next to a set of power lines, its not so much skill as it is having great depth perception. Skill comes into play when the engine quits.
Was wondering if anyone knew where I might be able to obtain a legal copy of this. I used to teach basic electricity and I think this might be an excellent training video or even as an icebreaker.
This clip came from the 2003 documentary Straight Up: Helicopters in Action. It was shot in IMAX. I remember seeing it a the National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian). It is available on DVD in non-IMAX format, too. Check Amazon.com.
Don't insult this guy by calling him an electrician. Nothing against electricians but being married to a lineman, I've always been told electrician work from the meter inside the lineman works from the meter out. This guy is way out! Kudos to both him and the helicopter pilot.
Regardless, he is still an electrician (with HV quals .. maybe). High or low voltage, we all work with the silent killer daily.... I'm 'just' an electrician and still work with equipment from 5 Volts up to 6600 Volts. We have slightly safer isolation practices though ;)
I like what he says about the fear of women. I thought it was just me.......... 1)electricity--being conquered, 2)heights--being conquered....... I'm sure he is okay with the 3d one. After all, HE IS MARRIED!
There was a story featured either on The Discovery Channel or the History Channel that featured the work linesmen do. It was extremely interesting and the show can probably be viewed on line or purchased directly from them.
Is that throbstick or F***stick, people do change employers quite often,they have also been known to be contractors which means they work for a multitude of companies,which generally means they are good and in demand. Next time make a valid comment or just keep them to yourself
i'm an apprentice lineman in california IBEW 47. the number is9517847507 . it is an awesome trade. california has one of the highest scales in the country with double time. good luck. oh yeah, my instructor at class was the first person to put 1million volts through his body
It's not "linesman" it's Lineman. No apprentice or journeyman would ever make that mistake, Pinochio. Also, no electrician would ever try to compare himself to a lineman in the presence of a lineman (over the internet is a different story) since electricians are bailing from the trade and becoming apprentice linemen. We provide the power, you keep wiring up the light fixtures and ceiling fans. Your safety practices are better because you don't close the main until your work is done. Linemen do it hot. At any rate, I'm an apprentice lineman for a California utility company. Many Cal-OSHA rules don't allow us to "walk the wire" like these men but the practice is still in use the world over. Transmission work is reserved mostly for utility transmission departments and outside line contractors. Very few linemen get the opportunity to do the work protrayed in this video but they do allow us to ride the helicopters after proper training. Climbing wooden poles lends plenty of dangers for those of us who will never "bond on" to those transmission lines. Another great way to get into this line of work is by going to school for it. www.lineman.com. It's a thankless job (get yelled at by plenty of customers during storm/heat damage) with great pay and benefits.
Sorry to dissagree but in Australia we often refur to our trade as linesman not "lineman". But spose this will differ depending on where you are in the world . I have also tryed go into the web sight you provided and it does not respond. Is there another address you can provide?
Good explanantion of being a lineman. I used to walk dead wire when I was an apprentice and we were putting in spacers and hanging vibration dampers. It can be and is fun but some times the macho wears off and we become power dispatchers. :)
It looks way too much like a routine job to be phony. Plus, I've seen stuff similar to this in High-Powered transmission tower antenna positioning work. We're talking kiloWatts there, at even higher altitudes.
Hello im new on hear so dont really know how you reply back to me, but i am an apprentice lineman. i have only worked on distribution lines, but have always wanted to try transmission lines. what all do you have to go through before being able to work off the helicopter? i would like to know what ever you are willing to tell me so here is my email.
In the video clip it really is not clear what the person "crawling the line" is doing. About 3/4 of the way through there appears another person on another phase doing the same thing in the opposite direction. And so to make the video, there had to be at least two 'copters. Yet it is NOT clear just what they are DOING. I am an electrical engineer and I know about Faraday cages, etc. but I cannot see WHAT it is they are DOING. Certainly the power company is going to unusual expense and trouble to hire the 'copter and pay the "line crawler" etc. but WHAT is he doing? Inspecting the insulators? Clearing the line of stray dust? WHAT? WHAT? Please, somebody tell me!
This video footage was taken at Beltzvillelake located about 3 miles East of Lehighton, Pa Yes the footage is real! Having lived near there I personly watched in amazment when they performed this back in 1996 they do this peiodically to inspect the lines. As a matter of fact when there is a slight mist of rain, or snow for that matter you can acually hear the lines buzzing, and it loud. Hats off to that pilot, and the line inspector, that take quite some talent, and training.
Hi bruce. Ditto on your comments. I've hiked to this spot several times and can see it from my house. I've seen the helicopters buzzing around once in a great while, but I never caught a glance of guys actually on the lines. I wonder if they service the big red and white balls that are on the lines across the lake to warn airplanes of the line? That's got to be a rush going out that far on the line.
Hey Goody,
In my yonger years I would have tackeled this with the required trainnng. But i be dammed if i would attemp it now. I flew over the lake and the lines in a plane, but i certainly would not walk, opps! i mean crawl the lines. That takes Brass B***s
Hey Linemen Commenting on This Video! This guy appears to be simultaneously contacting two lines that have high voltage between them. If there is copper mesh in his uniform a current will flow through it that will be astronomically high, and the copper will mess instantly. Please tell me what I am missing?
This Lineman is 74 years by the way when this video was filmed. wdbsatyr He and the copter are both isolated from any "ground" potential therefore basically are like a bird on a wire. Current will travel through the path of least resistance, thus ground. since there is no ground...They are full of energy! there you have it! (Right Santa Cruz?)
I would like to see the procedures for a hurt man rescue in this type of line work! Is there an equally qualified line worker (sorry %u201Clineman%u201D) in the chopper ready to perform a hurt man rescue should the man on the line become incapacitated? Next question, why is the guy crawling along the line? I know that peddle powered trolleys are made to roll on the two conductors are available. I do believe that this is a legitimate work procedure that in the future will become more and more in demand, as our customers demand uninterrupted power. However there are a couple of things that I see are questionable about what he is actually doing. He has minimal tools, looks like no material, I think primarily what he is doing is demonstrating the procedure of climb out on the line for a camera. I did line work for 15 years and loved every minute of it. I would like to say that for most lineman given the opportunity to do this procedure would be the equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest to most rock climbers. Lastly I would like to say to my fellow linemen %u201CWork Safe%u201D! Don%u2019t risk anything! No job is worth doing unsafe! It%u2019s not dead unless it is de-energized, tested, grounded, and tagged! Super
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