
Helicopter line maintenance
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.
2025 schedule
Task: Distribution line washing and siliconing
Suburb | Month |
---|---|
Berkshire Valley | May 2025 |
Bindi Bindi | May 2025 |
Burakin | May 2025 |
Buniche | May 2025 |
Dalwallinu | May 2025 |
Goodlands | May 2025 |
Jibberding | May 2025 |
Kalannie | May 2025 |
Kulja | May 2025 |
Miamoon | May 2025 |
Miling | May 2025 |
Moora | May 2025 |
Nugadong | May 2025 |
Petrudor | May 2025 |
Pithara | May 2025 |
Walebing | May 2025 |
Watheroo | May 2025 |
Wubin | May 2025 |
Xantippe | May 2025 |
Task: Transmission line washing
Suburb | Month |
---|---|
Allanson | May 2025 |
Ardath | May 2025 |
Beela | May 2025 |
Bowelling | May 2025 |
Brunswick | May 2025 |
Cardiff | May 2025 |
Collie | May 2025 |
Dardadine | May 2025 |
Darkan | May 2025 |
Dumberning | May 2025 |
East Wickepin | May 2025 |
Kirk Rock | May 2025 |
Kondinin | May 2025 |
Korbel | May 2025 |
Kulin West | May 2025 |
Malyalling | May 2025 |
Merredin | May 2025 |
Muja | May 2025 |
Mungalup | May 2025 |
Nangeenan | May 2025 |
Narrogin Valley | May 2025 |
Norpa | May 2025 |
Palmer | May 2025 |
Preston Settlement | May 2025 |
Roelands | May 2025 |
South Kumminin | May 2025 |
Wadderin | May 2025 |
Wagerup | May 2025 |
Wellesley | May 2025 |
Wickepin | May 2025 |
Williams | May 2025 |
Wogolin | May 2025 |
Wokalup | May 2025 |
Worsley | May 2025 |
Yilliminning | May 2025 |
Task: Transmission line inspections
Suburb | Month |
---|---|
Banksiadale | May 2025 |
Bellevue | May 2025 |
Bennett Springs | May 2025 |
Bickley | May 2025 |
Boddington | May 2025 |
Bowelling | May 2025 |
Buckingham | May 2025 |
Canning Mills | May 2025 |
Cardiff | May 2025 |
Cardup | May 2025 |
Carmel | May 2025 |
Champion Lakes | May 2025 |
Cookernup | May 2025 |
Dayton | May 2025 |
Doobarda | May 2025 |
Fairbridge | May 2025 |
Glen Iris | May 2025 |
Gooseberry Hill | May 2025 |
Hacketts Gully | May 2025 |
Harris River | May 2025 |
Harrisdale | May 2025 |
Harvey | May 2025 |
Helena Valley | May 2025 |
Henty | May 2025 |
Hoffman | May 2025 |
Hopeland | May 2025 |
Kelmscott | May 2025 |
Kwinana Beach | May 2025 |
Lower Hotham | May 2025 |
Hoffman | May 2025 |
Lyalls Mill | May 2025 |
Malaga | May 2025 |
Mandogalup | May 2025 |
Mardella | May 2025 |
Marradong | May 2025 |
Marrinup | May 2025 |
Martin | May 2025 |
Meelon | May 2025 |
Malaga | May 2025 |
Middle Swan | May 2025 |
Midvale | May 2025 |
Mornington | May 2025 |
Mount Wells | May 2025 |
Muja | May 2025 |
Mundijong | May 2025 |
Muja | May 2025 |
Mundijong | May 2025 |
Nanga Brook | May 2025 |
Naval Base | May 2025 |
North Dandalup | May 2025 |
Oakford | May 2025 |
Oakley | May 2025 |
Oakford | May 2025 |
Palmer | May 2025 |
Paradise | May 2025 |
Paulls Valley | May 2025 |
Picton | May 2025 |
Picton East | May 2025 |
Piesse Brook | May 2025 |
Postans | May 2025 |
Serpentine | May 2025 |
Shotts | May 2025 |
Southern River | May 2025 |
Swan View | May 2025 |
Teesdale | May 2025 |
The Spectacles | May 2025 |
Upper Murray | May 2025 |
Vittoria | May 2025 |
Wagerup | May 2025 |
Walliston | May 2025 |
Wandi | May 2025 |
Warawarrup | May 2025 |
Waroona | May 2025 |
Waterloo | May 2025 |
Wellington Forest | May 2025 |
West Swan | May 2025 |
Wokalup | May 2025 |
Worsley | May 2025 |
Wuraming | May 2025 |
Yabberup | May 2025 |
Yarloop | May 2025 |
Yourdamung Lake | May 2025 |
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.