If you spot a low-flying helicopter over your head this week, that’s not North Shore Rescue’s urban unit.
It’s actually Talon Helicopters doing contract work for Fortis BC. Starting May 1 and continuing to June 15, Talon will be conducting aerial surveys of gas transmission lines across 23 regional districts in B.C. – from Vancouver Island to Fort Nelson.
Some of the first areas to be surveyed are North and West Vancouver, as they are relatively close to Talon’s headquarters in Richmond. In West Van, flight paths will take a helicopter over the Ambleside, Dundarave and Westmount communities. And in North Van, expect a chopper to fly over Nortgate, Jones Avenue, Lower Lonsdale, Moodyville, Lynn Creek and Maplewood. These flights are expected to wrap up by early next week.
During the surveys, the helicopter will fly 90 to 150 metres above the ground, and flight times over a single area will be minimal, according to Holly Harrison, spokesperson for Fortis BC. Talon is permitted for low-level flights by Transport Canada.
The utility provider does these inspections annually to make sure its gas system continues to operate safely and reliably.
“We want to detect small issues before they become larger problems. And performing them as aerial inspections we found has been the most accurate and cost-effective way to detect issues in the system,” Harrison said, adding that these inspections used to be done on foot.
To carry out the survey work, Talon uses a LiDAR (light detection and ranging) device attached to the belly of its yellow TwinStar helicopter. The remote-sensing method can detect leaks as small as five parts per million – the equivalent of around five seconds over 11 and a half days – and is 98 per cent accurate in detecting leaks, Harrison explained.
But the technology requires clear weather to operate, which is why Fortis BC has scheduled this year's fights earlier than in previous years to get ahead of wildfire season. Flight schedules could change due to weather or fire activity.
