nexttousisatankfullofkerosene.
It’s like we’re about to become part of
the circuit. I can feel the vibration in
my hands and hear the buzzing and
crackling of electricity...”
Anyonewho’slisteningtoRyanHill
or watching him while he works might
thinkhehasgrownwearyofliving.
Because while others usually keep
their distance from “charged” high-
voltagelines,Hillandhiscolleagues
are being deposited right on them by
a helicopter. That’s actually the most
efficient way to do it: Missions from
thegroundtakelonger,costmore
thantwiceasmuch,and—thecrucial
factor—the lines can remain under
full load when a helicopter is used.
That part is of paramount importanceAROUND 450,000 MILES
is the distance covered by the high-voltage power
network of the United States. The repair teams can
reach even remote locations by helicopter.
WITH A METAL ROD
the technician establishes a charge balance
between the power line and the helicopter
before climbing out.FROM THE WORK PLATFORM
of the helicopter, the technician maneuvers
onto the power line. In the process, further
charge equalization takes place.overloading the alternative ro
High-voltage electricians like Ryan
Hill know their responsibilities well—
and they risk their lives daily for the
security of the nation’s energy supply.
Traveling by helicopter allows Hill to
reach far-fl ung problem areas much
faster than making the trip in any kind
of off-road vehicle, and it also saves
him the trouble of climbing. Like an
oversized bumblebee, the helicopter
hovers between 160-foot-tall masts.
First the technician uses a metal rod
to establish an electrical connection
between the line and the helicopter,
thus bringing it to the same voltage
potential as the line: He becomes a
kind of human battery cable, one that
is now in contact with 500,000 volts.THE DANGER FLOWS
DIRECTLY OVER THE SKIN
From a voltage of 50 volts, electricity
can penetrate a person’s skin. In the
cables runs 10,000 times as much—
and only a 1-millimeter-thick layer of
metal protects Hill from certain death:
It’s inside an inconspicuous-looking
suit consisting of 75% Nomex fl ame-
resistant material and 25% rust-free
stainless steel fi bers. As a result, the
substance does not insulate; instead,
it conducts the current around Hill’s
body like a Faraday cage—just as the
body of a car does for the occupants
if the roof is struck by lightning. This
suit even enables Hill to comfortably
climb around on the power lines—as