National Grid helicopter area survey Wednesday

LYNN – It might not resemble a scene from “Apocalypse Now,” but the anticipated sight and sound of helicopters over Lynn and other North Shore communities Wednesday should be no cause for alarm.National Grid, the utility company, plans to inspect its power lines from the air above Lynn, Saugus, Salem, Topsfield, Boxford, Gloucester, Melrose and Malden throughout the day, according to spokesman Molly Dexter.The helicopter patrols are designed to help the company spot potential problems with equipment structures or lines so that they can be addressed before service interruptions occur, said Dexter, adding that many of the power lines are major supply circuits that traverse remote areas difficult to access by land vehicles or on foot.”The aerial view gained from a fly-over also enables crews to spot potential problems with trees or tree limbs that may be too close to lines. Tree damage can be a major cause of power outages,” she said.The helicopters will hover over nine communities, weather permitting. The inspectors will conduct visual and infra-red inspections for general infrastructure wear and tear. The infra-red camera detects heat and is helpful in pinpointing areas where equipment wear or loose connections literally create visible hot spots. Once problem areas are identified, crews are dispatched to make any required repairs, Dexter said.”We feel that being proactive is essential to ensuring overall system reliability,” said Marie Jordan, National Grid vice president of operations for New England North. “By taking a calculated approach to heading off problems on our main power lines before they occur, we are able to prevent the outages that could potentially impact thousands of customers.”The company has notified police and fire departments as well as municipal officials in communities where the patrols are planned. Questions or concerns should be addressed to National Grid’s toll-free customer service line at 800-322-3223.