A-10 jet severs two protective cables above power lines

[gortje]

Hi,

I've found this article today:

A low-flying A-10 Thunderbolt II military jet hit two protective cables above a major power transmission line crossing Stockton Lake Wednesday afternoon, and boaters are being kept away from the downed cables.

Danielle Johnston, spokeswoman with the Air Force Reserve’s 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, confirmed that two of the unit’s A-10 planes were flying together when one hit the cables near the town of Bona.

Johnston said the pilot was uninjured and returned safely to Whiteman. The pilot was on a local, low altitude, navigational-training mission and has been removed from flight status until an investigation is completed.

“The estimated damage to the aircraft is unknown at this time,” Johnston said in an email. “The event is under investigation in accordance with Air Force safety regulations.”

A-10 Thunderbolts are single-seat, twin-engine attack jets designed to provide close support for ground troops

The Army Corp is working with the Missouri Highway Patrol’s water patrol division to mark the area with buoys to keep boaters away from submerged cables. Corps spokesman Dave Kolarik said the lines are owned by Vinita, Okla.,-based KAMO Electric Cooperative.

“Our role in this is fairly limited,” Kolarik said.

Ted Hilmes, chief operating officer of KAMO, said the jet hit the two “static cables” in the middle of the transmission line span, where it crosses the lake just south of the Highway 245 bridge.. The static cables, made of aluminum and copper, don’t carry power but help protect transmission lines from lightning and other hazards.

After the jet hit the static wires, Hilmes said electrical system monitors immediately sensed a problem and shut off power to the three transmission lines. The transmission lines remain de-energized while a repair plan is put in place. Hilmes said repairs might take up to two months to complete and could possibly involve a helicopter to restring the static cables across the lake.

Power has been rerouted and no customers lost service, he said.

“We’d like people to know that, yes, the line is out of service and there is no risk of any electrical contact to the public,” Hilmes said. “The Corps and Water Patrol quickly placed emergency buoys in the water to mark potentially hazardous areas.”

Until static line repairs are made, Hilmes said it’s possible the transmission line could be re-energized if needed, although they’d face an increased risk of damage from lightning. He said he was glad neither the pilot nor anyone nearby was was injured.

“This certainly is a little unusual for us,” Hilmes said.

Source: http://www.news-leader.com/article/2013 ... ck_check=1