PUD to use aerial saw helicopter for vegetation management

NEWPOR – This summer, the Pend Oreille Public Utility District will take to the skies in an effort to improve electric reliability, reduce wildfire risk and accelerate vegetation management work across the county.

The PUD has contracted with Heli-Dunn, an Oregon-based helicopter services company specializing in aerial vegetation management for utility infrastructure. Using a specially designed helicopter- mounted aerial saw system, crews will trim vegetation along power line rights-of-way in areas that are difficult, time-consuming, or costly to reach using traditional ground crews.