Imagine threading a needle while piloting a helicopter.
That’s the job Warrick Wright, Ōtorohanga aviation company HeliA1’s deputy chief pilot, successfully completed for Waipā Networks in Cambridge on Saturday.
HeliA1 Helicopter Services deputy chief pilot Warrick Wright and spotter Andy Curtis in front of the AS350B3 “Squirrel” the Ōtorohanga company uses for powerline stringing. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The mission involved stringing new earth wires from the Otahuhu to Whakamaru 220kV overhead line above Hautapu through transmission towers to connect with Waipā Network’s new 33kV substation which in turn hooks into Transpower’s new 220kV grid exit point substation.
Waikato Expressway was closed between Cambridge Road and Hautapu for four hours so the transmission wires could be pulled across the highway.
Watching on from a safe distance was Waipā Networks’ projects delivery manager Dan Linton, born and bred in Te Awamutu, who has the job of ensuring the company’s new substation gets completed on budget and in time.
Waipā Networks’ project manager Dan Linton of Te Awamutu at the site of the new substation adjacent to Waikato Expressway in Hautapu, Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Waipā Networks’ project manager Dan Linton of Te Awamutu at the site of the new substation adjacent to Waikato Expressway in Hautapu, Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
When switched on it will treble the electricity capacity for Cambridge and cater for future growth across the district.
The substations are on land Waipā Networks bought in Forrest Road and directly underneath the national grid.
“Cambridge is obviously a fast growing and developing area both industrial and residential,” said Linton who said the project was part of a 30-year plan which would see more than 13,000 new homes across Waipā.
Demand is expected to grow from 42 megawatts at peak to 50 megawatts.
Megawatts measure power and while usage needs vary among users – factories like the giant APL one or Fonterra in Hautapu need more than the average household – a megawatt of power can light up to 1000 homes.
“They don’t just build for what is happening, to cater for the now or next year. It’s definitely long term planning to cater for the future, future growth,” said Linton.
Waiting on the towers were contracted staff who caught the wires pulled by the helicopter.
Wright’s passenger, spotter Andy Curtis, had the job of ensuring the handover was completed successfully while perched on the chopper’s boarding step.
They had completed two other earth wires the week before.
“Safe as houses up there,” said Wright, a 12-year helicopter pilot veteran.
“The wind is a very important factor,” he said. But fortunately, it was windless on Saturday and there were more concerns about sunburn than windburn.
HeliA1 Helicopter Services deputy chief pilot Warrick Wright in front of the AS350B3 “Squirrel” the Ōtorohanga company uses for powerline stringing. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Ironically pilots train to stay away from power lines but in this instance, they were right above and beside them, he said.
“Most of our business is agricultural work but we are doing more and more of this utility work all over the place.”
Work on the substations began 12 months ago. The Transpower substation is on track for commissioning in December while the Waipā one will start commissioning in April next year.
Waipā Networks is an electricity distribution utility providing electricity to over 40,000 customers in Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Kāwhia and surrounding areas.
Transpower is the owner and operator of the national grid, a high-voltage transmission network that connects areas of power generation with towns and cities across New Zealand.
HeliA1 Helicopter Services deputy chief pilot Warrick Wright and spotter Andy Curtis in the AS350B3 “Squirrel” powerline stringing for Waipā Networks on Saturday in Hautapu.
HeliA1 Helicopter Services deputy chief pilot Warrick Wright and spotter Andy Curtis in the AS350B3 “Squirrel” powerline stringing for Waipā Networks on Saturday in Hautapu.
