Mid-Michigan is Obsessed with Low-Flying Helicopters and Now We’ll See More

How many times have you been reading through the Grand Blanc, Flint or Saginaw City Facebook Groups to have someone ask:

• What was that loud boom?
• Why is there a helicopter in the air?

Half the time it's nothing crazy. Now, you will be seeing more helicopters around Mid-Michigan for a bit.

See Also: Michiganders are wondering what these cylinder-shaped things are doing near water?

Why are helicopters flying so low?

Sometimes a Michigan State Police chopper is looking for someone, of course. Or a medical helicopter is making a life-saving flight.

But the reason you'll be seeing a new, curious helicopter behavior is for non-crime or health related reasons.

This time, it's for aerial inspections of high-voltage power lines, according to ABC12-TV.

High Voltage Power Line Maintenance

A company named, ITC, manages thousands of miles of transmission lines for electricity throughout Mid-Michigan. They're responsible for lines throughout the Midwest and plains, too.

Earlier this year they used helicopters to inspect lines. This fall they'll be doing it again.

Schedule for ITC Helicopter Power Line Inspections

ITC Michigan says it serves a population of 4.9 million people throughout the lower peninsula of Michigan.

Look for these flights over the next month in the following counties according to WJRT-TV:

• September 11-14 in the counties of Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Iosco, Midland, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Roscommon
• Gratiot, Isabella September 18-20
• Lapeer, Midland, Tuscola, Genesee, Huron, Sanilac, Shiawassee October 2-6.

Flight inspection will happen during these times, as weather allows.

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So, when someone paranoid asks what's with the low-flying helicopters, you can tell them it's not anything nefarious.