Smart view for a smart grid: unmanned aerial vehicles for transmission lines

Key takeaways

• BC terrain was an early proving ground for uncrewed line patrol.
• Crew safety, not cost alone, drove the move away from helicopters.
• The operational case for drone patrol in BC predates the current rules by more than a decade.

Why it matters for pilots in training

Direct local context: this is the terrain our students fly, and the mission profile BC utilities have wanted for fifteen years.