As part of our bushfire prevention program we use helicopters to inspect powerlines, poles and other equipment in bushfire-prone areas.

Helicopters enable us to view and assess our network from above using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning and high resolution photography to identify poles, equipment and vegetation that may present a future bushfire risk.

When do we carry out the patrols?

Our crews will typically be in the air no earlier than 1 hour after sunrise and no later than 1 hour before sunset (weather permitting). The helicopters fly at speeds between 90 and 170 km/h and between 100 to 300 metres above the ground. 

The LiDAR scanner sends and records 300,000 pulses every second to create a three-dimensional representation of the Ausgrid network and surrounding environment.

Helicopter Patrol Schedule Areas and Dates 2025

Our helicopter patrols will fly between April and June this year. Some areas will have multiple flights during these periods. Please see the map below for more information.

• 1/4/25 - 19/4/25
  Upper Hunter
  
  
• 2/4/25 - 26/4/25
  Sydney
  
  
• 5/4/25 - 8/4/25
  Central Coast
  
  
• 14/4/25 - 26/4/25
  Singleton/Muswellbrook
  
  
• 25/4/25 - 1/5/25
  Cessnock
  
  
• 26/4/25 - 17/5/25
  Central Coast
  
  
• 28/4/25 - 15/5/25
  Newcastle/Maitland
  
  
• 28/4/25 - 15/5/25
  Lake Macquarie
  
  
• 5/5/25 - 15/5/25
  Sydney
  
  
• 5/5/25 - 10/5/25
  Port Stephens
  
  
• 16/5/25 - 28/5/25
  Cessnock
  
  
• 17/5/25 - 23/5/25
  Newcastle, Maitland, Lake Macquarie
  
  
• 28/5/25 - 2/6/25
  Port Stephens, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Cessnock, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, Maitland, Newcastle