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ITC Midwest will be conducting aerial patrols of  high-voltage transmission structures and lines throughout its service territory from  approximately May 13 to 24, weather permitting. Helicopter patrols provide an overall  status of the overhead transmission system owned and operated by ITC Midwest.  

The flights take place across the following areas of the ITC Midwest service territory:  

Aerial patrols will be flown around  the Minnesota communities of Adams, Fairmont, Glenville, Harmony, Hayward,  Luverne, Sherburn and Winnebago, and Lancaster, Wisconsin. Iowa counties in the  aerial patrol areas include Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Cerro Gordo,  Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dickinson, Dubuque, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock,  Howard, Jackson, Kossuth, Mitchell, Osceola, Winnebago and Worth. In addition,  aerial patrols will be flown in Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Jackson, Martin, Mower,  Nobles and Rock counties in Minnesota, and Grant County in Wisconsin.  

These patrols are a North American Electrical Reliability Corporation requirement for ITC Midwest’s vegetation management program, support proactive  maintenance objectives and align with the company’s model for operational  excellence. The flights will include the inspection of vegetation in the vicinity of  transmission structures, wood poles, conductors (wires), insulators and other  equipment. 

The inspection flights are often conducted at low altitudes to facilitate accurate visual  inspection of vegetation hazards. This is normal procedure, so there is no cause for  alarm if a low-flying helicopter is sighted near transmission lines during the time frame  listed above.