HELICOPTER OPERATION FOR PATROL OF POWER LINES IN REMOTE AREAS

The Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, Canada, originated as a co-operative enterprise of the Municipalities of Ontario in the public utility field. It was created by special acts of the Ontario Legislature in 1906-07 and given certain rights for the development, generation and distribution of electrical energy within the Province. Its growth has been prodigious until, today, with expansion still going on, total generation amounts to approximately 4,000,000 Horse Power of electrical energy, and capital investment is over $1,000,000,000.00. Ontario is blessed with extensive water power resources and, therefore, our generation of electricity is predominantly from hydraulic sources. The geographical layout of the Province is such that the load centres are distant from generation, resulting in many miles of long distance High Voltage transmission lines. In many cases, these circuits pass over rough and isolated country and it is not unusual to have 300 miles intervening between the source of power and the centre of distribution.