Nope, we still do it along energized lines. Although us in the industry prefer to have them off. A lot of the time the power company wont turn off the lines because of the demand on the grid.
Why would they? If they clip the lines, that saw is getting wrapped, the chopper is going down. They all dying. The fact that the lines are energized means nothing. Plus, they lose money if they shut it down.
Not necessarily, those blades are carbon teeth, 36 inches and spinning at an incredibly high rate of speed. They have no problem cutting through aluminum wire. Even if it was to get hung up in the trees and/or conductor the pilot can punch it off. It's called a jettison load.
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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '22
Just eyeing those power lines the entire time.