Media Advisory
WMECo to Conduct Aerial Vegetation Survey
Helicopters will be used to patrol, as part of vegetation management program
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 10, 2012 – Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) will be conducting an aerial vegetation survey of its rights-of-way over the western Massachusetts region on Thursday, April 12 and Friday, April 13, 2012.
A low-flying, silver and blue helicopter with tail numbers N39MK will be patrolling the area as part of WMECo’s routine vegetation management program. The aircraft will fly over the transmission lines being surveyed at a speed of approximately 50 knots and an altitude of approximately 250 feet. The aircraft may, as necessary, circle over certain areas. Flights are scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. from Northampton Airport, flying until approximately 3:30 p.m. All flights are weather permitting; adverse flying conditions will require rescheduling of the flights.
The flights will cover the following Massachusetts communities:
Agawam, Amherst, Ashfield, Becket, Belchertown, Blandford, Cheshire, Chicopee, Conway, Dalton, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Erving, Granby, Granville, Greenfield, Hampden, Hancock, Hinsdale, Holyoke, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Leverett, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Montague, Northfield, Otis, Pelham, Peru, Pittsfield, Plainfield, Russell, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Southampton, Southwick, Springfield, Warwick, Wendell, West Springfield, Westfield, Wilbraham, Windsor
The aerial survey will be performed in addition to aerial tree trimming performed by NU Transmission Vegetation Management from April 3 through April 17, 2012. Tree trimming will be performed using a black and maroon striped helicopter with tail numbers N765KV.
Western Massachusetts Electric Company, a Northeast Utilities company (NYSE:NU), serves approximately 210,000 customers in 59 communities throughout western Massachusetts and is committed to the environment, economic development and the health of the communities it serves. For more information, please visit our website: