COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Residents in Branch and surrounding counties may notice a low-flying helicopter overhead starting Friday, as part of an aerial inspection of the region’s high-voltage electrical grid.
Conducted by ITC’s operating entities, ITCTransmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Company (METC), these flights are scheduled to run through June 17, weather permitting.
Local areas included in this specific patrol window span across Branch, Hillsdale, St. Joseph, Calhoun, and Kalamazoo counties.
The low-altitude flights are a standard procedure designed to give crews a clear, close-up view of overhead lines, structures, and equipment to check for wear, lightning damage, or hazardous vegetation.
These routine patrols fulfill requirements set by the North American Electrical Reliability Corporation (NERC) for ITC’s vegetation management program.
Officials emphasize that these inspections support proactive maintenance and operational safety, meaning residents should not be alarmed if they see the helicopter operating close to local transmission lines.
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