SRP Adopted Aerial Repair Methods for Power Grids in 2024
The utility's use of helicopter-suspended air chairs helps operators maintain service continuity in remote locations.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Utilities
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Since 2024, Salt River Project has utilized air chairs suspended from helicopters to repair energized power lines across Arizona. This aerial maintenance program provides a specialized method for accessing remote transmission lines while keeping power flowing to customers.
Why it matters
By performing repairs on energized lines via helicopter access, the utility minimizes service disruptions for businesses and residents in difficult-to-reach areas. This approach replaces time-consuming ground-based vehicle deployment with a more efficient aerial logistical model.
Salt River Project currently has 32 journeyman linemen trained to operate aerial air chairs across its transmission groups, including 12 dedicated to its core maintenance organization. This program remains the only one of its kind currently active among utility providers in Arizona.
The players
Salt River Project
A Mesa-based utility provider that manages power transmission and water resources across Arizona.
The details
Technicians use specialized boots with heel hooks to secure their footing while suspended in air chairs tethered to helicopters. Once the aircraft reaches the repair site and hovers above the energized lines, linemen must balance their body weight to perform precise mechanical tasks. This method allows the utility to avoid de-energizing lines, preventing power outages during routine or emergency maintenance in remote terrain.
Timeline
The aerial access maintenance program was officially launched in 2024.
Market Landscape
The adoption of the aerial access maintenance program in 2024 marks a strategic departure from standard utility ground operations in Arizona. This shift aligns with broader industry trends toward using specialized logistics to improve infrastructure resiliency in remote regions.
Business operators in remote Arizona regions should monitor how this aerial capability impacts their specific uptime requirements during maintenance windows. When planning for critical power needs, confirm if your site location is within the service areas prioritized by these specialized aerial teams.
The takeaway
The deployment of aerial maintenance technology underscores the importance of evaluating how your utility provider manages service uptime in geographically challenging areas. Track your own business's historical outage frequency to determine if current infrastructure maintenance models adequately protect your operations.
Further reading
For more on industry infrastructure developments, visit Utilities.
Source note: This article includes information reported by AZfamily.
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