This is What the Low-Flying Helicopter is Doing Over Newtown Today

Don't be alarmed if a low-flying helicopter hovers over your place in Newtown today, they're not looking for escapees from the prison, they're just doing a very dangerous job.

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It usually starts innocently enough on your town's social media page, it's usually a post with "Hey, what's up with the helicopter flying back and forth over ____". Four or five sarcastic responses usually follow, and then someone will figure out that it's a helicopter doing power line inspections. That's what's happening in Newtown today. The Newtown Police Department sent out an announcement to residents via their official social media page this morning advising the public that "There may be a low-flying helicopter in various parts or town today conducting routing powerline maintenance'.

In the past few years I've seen these types of helicopter-inspections happening all over our area in Brookfield, New Milford, up and down the Naugatuck River into Torrington and Waterbury. What are these brave crews actually doing?

Why are helicopters used to inspect power lines? Helicopters allow crews to view and easily inspect power lines that may be impossible to reach and carry out repairs from a hanging basket that might otherwise take weeks to happen. The helicopter you see hovering above your street has been fitted with infrared and ultraviolet sensors that detect issues in the substations and on high-voltage power lines. These issues, if not fixed immediately, will be addressed before too long, and the end result is safe, reliable service for all. Endure those moments of feeling like you're being rescued from a rooftop, or chased down Henry Hill-Goodfellas-style, they will only be over your place for a moment.