jeff trikeAerotrike Cobra 912, with a Rival-X wing.

1800 hrs as of January 2019

Powerline avoidance strategy

Last updated by XC Triker Comments (14)

Categories: Safety

A recent powerline fatality and a few near misses of my own got me thinking about what I can do to avoid powerlines.

http://www.havasunews.com/news/coroner-identifies-parker-man-as-victim-in-fatal-aircraft-crash/article_e1129e32-e850-11e2-aa60-0019bb2963f4.html

1) If you approach a powerline, cross it at over the pole, which is a lot easier to see.

2) If you are flying low at powerline altitude (under 30ft AGL) pull in on the bar and carry a lot of extra speed so you can release the bar and pop over if  you have to.

3) Realize flying low is risky and be in a heightened alert state of mind when doing so.   Don't fly low at all in dim light or low visibility conditions.  If you want to be a more relaxed flying experience, go higher. 

4) Scan from side to side and look for sun glint on the powerlines.

5) If you flying with other trikes, call out "Powerline" if  you see them.  Don't assume everyone else have noticed them first.

6) Stay above treetop level unless you have flown the area before and are absolutely sure there are no powerlines.

7) Powerlines need an access road to put them up and maintain them.  Beware of all roads and dirt roads in the middle of nowhere.

8) Buildings in the middle of nowhere usually have a powerline going up to them.

9) Be wary of small shallow canyons (50-100 ft deep).  Often powerlines will span these canyons.

10) Powerlines are often marked with orange balls that are put there specifically to make them visible to aircraft.  Look for them, but realize that most powerlines are not marked.

11) Mark them on your GPS as waypoints in the area around you home airport. On my old Lowrance, I marked them with the skull and crossbones symbol.  On my new GPS, I just put a "P" where there are along a river I like to fly along.

That's all I could come up with now, please add to the list.

Jeff

 

 

 

Comments