With a network area of 255,000km2, that’s a lot of ground to cover. One way to improve the efficiency of our work is to use a helicopter to conduct patrols/inspections, washing, siliconing, and routine maintenance of transmission and distribution lines and assets. It also means that we don’t need to drive on to your property to do all of this.
Pollution and humidity can build up on electrical insulators and so we need to keep them clean to minimise reliability issues. Live line washing means that the power stays on while we do it. The helicopters fly low – around the same height as poles – so we recommend that farmers who may be concerned about disruption to their livestock consider moving them away from power lines.
2024 schedule
Task: Distribution line washing and siliconing
Suburb | Month |
---|---|
Dunn Rock | May 2024 |
Fitzgerald | May 2024 |
Jacup | May 2024 |
Jerramungup | May 2024 |
Lake King | May 2024 |
Magenta | May 2024 |
Mount Madden | May 2024 |
Ravensthorpe | May 2024 |
West Fitzgerald | May 2024 |
West River | May 2024 |
Task: Transmission line washing
Suburb | Month |
---|---|
Ardath | May 2024 |
Binduli | May 2024 |
Bodallin | May 2024 |
Boorabbin | May 2024 |
Bruce Rock | May 2024 |
Bullabulling | May 2024 |
Carrabin | May 2024 |
Coolgardie | May 2024 |
Ghooli | May 2024 |
Kanowna | May 2024 |
Karlkurla | May 2024 |
Kondinin | May 2024 |
Korbel | May 2024 |
Merredin | May 2024 |
Moorine Rock | May 2024 |
Mount Burges | May 2024 |
Nangeenan | May 2024 |
Norpa | May 2024 |
South Bodallin | May 2024 |
South Burracoppin | May 2024 |
South Kumminin | May 2024 |
Southern Cross | May 2024 |
Wadderin | May 2024 |
Walgoolan | May 2024 |
Wallaroo | May 2024 |
Yellowdine | May 2024 |
Yilkari | May 2024 |
Task: Transmission line maintenance
Suburb | Month |
---|---|
Allanson | May 2024 |
Anketell | May 2024 |
Badgingarra | May 2024 |
Baldivis | May 2024 |
Bibra Lake | May 2024 |
Binningup | May 2024 |
Blythewood | May 2024 |
Breton Bay | May 2024 |
Cardiff | May 2024 |
Casuarina | May 2024 |
Cataby | May 2024 |
Cockburn Central | May 2024 |
Cookernup | May 2024 |
Cooljarloo | May 2024 |
Coolup | May 2024 |
Hammond Park | May 2024 |
Harris River | May 2024 |
Hill River | May 2024 |
Hoffman | May 2024 |
Hope Valley | May 2024 |
Hopeland | May 2024 |
Karakin | May 2024 |
Keralup | May 2024 |
Mandogalup | May 2024 |
Mardella | May 2024 |
Mimegarra | May 2024 |
Mornington | May 2024 |
Muja | May 2024 |
Myalup | May 2024 |
Nambeelup | May 2024 |
Nambung | May 2024 |
Naval Base | May 2024 |
Neergabby | May 2024 |
Nilgen | May 2024 |
Oakley | May 2024 |
Palmer | May 2024 |
Pinjar | May 2024 |
Pinjarra | May 2024 |
Ravenswood | May 2024 |
Shotts | May 2024 |
South Lake | May 2024 |
Success | May 2024 |
Uduc | May 2024 |
Wagerup | May 2024 |
Wandi | May 2024 |
Waroona | May 2024 |
Warradarge | May 2024 |
Wellard | May 2024 |
Wellesley | May 2024 |
West Coolup | May 2024 |
West Pinjarra | May 2024 |
Wilbinga | May 2024 |
Wokalup | May 2024 |
Woodridge | May 2024 |
Worsley | May 2024 |
Yanchep | May 2024 |
Yarloop | May 2024 |
Wilbinga | May 2024 |
Yeal | May 2024 |
FAQs
The helicopter operates at roughly the same height as the power poles, ensuring effective cleaning and silicone application.
We’re committed to improving network resilience for our communities. Helicopter maintenance work, especially the washing and siliconing of insulators, helps reduce the risk of pole top fires and ensures consistent and safe power supply across Western Australia.
The maintenance involves two steps. First, we spray insulators and powerlines with demineralised water. In the second phase we return to apply a protective silicone layer.
We start by using demineralised water for initial cleaning. Following that, we apply FCSIL6, a silicone product, to protect against potential electrical hazards. FCSIL6 is not classified as hazardous (based on the Global Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals).
It's unlikely the helicopter will need to land on private properties. However, if such a situation arises, we'll do our best to communicate with landowners in advance.
Please check our monthly list of suburbs. Our daily schedule is subject to change depending on weather and other operational considerations.
Helicopters won’t be flying in and around residential streets, main roads, close to houses, livestock, etc. Other type of treatments can be employed to maintain the network where a helicopter cannot fly.