Low-Flying Helicopters Over Dubuque? Here’s What’s Happening

If you spot a low-flying helicopter over Dubuque or nearby towns in the coming days, don’t be alarmed.  It’s all just a part of a routine, and an incredibly important inspection by ITC Midwest.

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From May 12th through May 23rd, ITC Midwest will be conducting aerial patrols of its high-voltage transmission lines throughout eastern Iowa, including right here in Dubuque, Key West, and Asbury. That is, if the weather plays nice. These flights are part of the company’s proactive approach to maintaining a safe and reliable electric transmission system.

So, who’s behind it? According to a recent press release, ITC Midwest, a Cedar Rapids-based utility company, owns and operates more than 6,600 miles of transmission lines across five states. These regular helicopter patrols are a requirement of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which sets industry standards for reliability and safety.

The inspections are conducted by helicopter to give crews a bird’s-eye view of the power system. Crews look for signs of wear, damage, or anything that might interfere with the lines. This includes vegetation growing too close. The Helicopters will be flying at low altitudes to get a clear, close-up view of the equipment. As such, residents might notice them buzzing overhead during the two-week window near the powerlines and stations.

These flights will cover much of Iowa, including Dubuque County and surrounding areas, like Jackson, Delaware, and Clayton counties, and will extend into Grant County, Wisconsin.

Keeping these lines clear and in good condition helps prevent outages and keeps power flowing reliably to our homes and businesses. This is especially important as we head into the stormy summer season.