Our History and Our Future

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Our History

National Grid’s helicopter unit will celebrate its 60th year of operation in 2023 having provided inspection services since its inception in 1963 for the Bristol Port Authority.


A severe winter in 1965 saw the helicopters operational use in emergency situations come to the fore. Conditions were so poor that linesmen and staff had to be flown to areas where electricity lines had been brought down.


By 1970 the Helicopter Unit’s good reputation continued to develop with the formation of a consortium of electricity boards including South Western Electricity Board (SWEB), Midlands Electricity Board (MEB), South Wales Electricity (SWALEC) and South Eastern Electricity Boards (SEEBOARD). Further growth was seen in 1988 with the addition of the Southern Electricity Board (SEB).
Since then the Unit have flown four different aircraft types (see below), amassed some 180,000 flying hours and patrolled in excess of 1.6 million kilometres of electricity network. Today, we are used to helicopters making an important contribution in severe weather events playing a vital role in power restoration operations.

Our Present

The unit have flown four different aircraft types, amassed some 180,000 flying hours and patrolled in excess of 1.6 million kilometres of electricity network. Today, we are used to helicopters making an important contribution in severe weather events playing a vital role in power restoration operations.

 

National Grid and the Helicopter Unit are committed to and working toward a challenging goal of becoming net zero in their carbon emissions by 2028. With this in mind the Helicopter Unit, working with their engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney, have begun looking at the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). As their use and availability becomes more prevalent it is likely the Helicopter Unit will be able to commence using SAF therefore having a significant impact on its carbon emissions.

 


 

Our Future

National Grid are commited to future technologies and innovation. Therefore, the Helicopter Unit are in the process of reviewing the capability of large remotely piloted systems along with appropriate sensor technologies to supplement the manned aircraft. A working group has been established which includes many of the supplliers used to modify and equip the helicopters with their current suite of sensors. Currently the aim is to provide a concept of operations trial in the summer of 2022 which may include a small section of beyond visual line of sight flight.