Haverfield Aviation, Inc. the leading provider of aerial power line inspection and maintenance services to the electric industry both in the United States and abroad announced today that it has gained the prestigious International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations Registration (IS-BAO).

This registration incorporates the best safety practices, hazard analysis’s, risk assessments, International regulations and guidance, and is recognized throughout the world as the gold standard of aviation safety.

On March 10th, 2009 Haverfield Aviation was awarded a United States Patent (US 7,501,574 B1) for a support assembly that will attach to a lattice type structure arm. This support will distribute the weight of the conductor to both sides of the lattice arm to prevent its collapse while changing insulators on ‘V’ or ‘I’ strings. This support also aids in the time it takes to make the necessary changes in a safe and efficient manner. Haverfield Aviation continues to lead the industry with new and innovative products that are geared to improve the operational safety for linemen and their equipment. Larry Graham, who brings over 30 years of transmission line maintenance experience to Haverfield Aviation, designed this particular device.

Mr. Darryl Ed, the President of Haverfield Aviation stated, “It is this type of dedication to our company and the utility industry that has allowed Haverfield to maintain its position as the industry leader in the aerial maintenance field”. Haverfield Aviation is based out of Gettysburg, PA where they maintain and operate a fleet of 15 helicopters.

First Energy Construction Project

Haverfield Aviation has been an industry leader in the specialized world of aerial transmission line work for over 25 years. During this time we’ve seen every aspect of the transmission line construction process from a ‘different vantage point’, looking down. It was our belief that this operation could be drastically improved by the utilization of aircraft at strategic phases of the build process. This would accomplish a number of things. Speed and efficiency would be greatly enhanced and the on ground footprint (less heavy equipment) would be greatly diminished. With this in mind Haverfield Aviation was given the opportunity to bid a small 5.75-mile project with First Energy Corporation in Pennsylvania. This project is less than 10 miles from our corporate offices in Gettysburg, PA.

Our project consists of replacing 24 Wood H-Frame structures, three 3-pole double dead structures, and one three-pole running angle structure. The 3-pole structures were partially framed on the ground but will require aerial framing once the poles are set. All replacement poles are laminated wood poles instead of the typical wood pole. We will be installing double helix anchors at the dead end and angle structures. Finally, we will be removing existing shield wire and conductors and installing new 795 ACSR conductors and 3/8" EHS shield wire over the length of 5.75 miles.

We will be utilizing the MD 500 to fly rope, including utilization of a threading needle for the center phase. The 500 will also be utilized to unclip and clip in the conductors and OHGW. We utilized the S-61 (heavy lift) to spot the wood H-structures on site along side the still energized line to be given clearance in early March 2009. We will also utilize the S-61 to set some of those same structures. All of the structures would have been set utilizing the S-61 had the line outage scheduled for later been available during the time when the structures were spotted on site. For those structures not set with the helicopter we will be utilizing a Mantis Crane mounted on tracks to set the structures. The work will last from Jan 19 to late April.