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Initials KC/S/JF/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK, A YEAR-ROUND RESORT IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES, 40 MILES OF POWER LINE IS BEING STRUNG FROM BANFF TO LAKE LOUISE.EIGHT MILES OF THIS LINE CROSSES OVER MOUNTAINS AND RIDGES.

IN THIS AREA, IT WAS DECIDED TO USE A HELICOPTER FOR SETTING THE POLES - TWO POLES WITH A CROSS ARM ON TOP - CALLED AN H-FRAME.IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN MONTHS TO DO IT BY GROUNDWORK AND SOME OF THE PLACES WOULD HAVE BEEN INACCESSIBLE TO CATERPILLARS OR ANY OTHER MECHANICAL VEHICLES.

SIXTY POLES AND THIRTY CROSS ARMS WERE SET IN PLACE IN II FLYING HOURS.THE POWER POLES RANGED IN LENGTH AND WEIGHT FROM ABOUT 800 LBS TO ABOUT 2,750 LBS.

ONCE THE POLES HAD BEEN SET IN, IT WAS DECIDED TO TRY TO STRING EIGHT MILES OF CONDUCTOR WIRE PULLED OFF A STATIONARY REEL ON THE GROUND.THE HIGH TENSION CONDUCTOR WIRE WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF AN INCH THICK.

A MAN HAD TO CLIMB EACH POLE AND WAIT FOR THE HELICOPTER TO MANOEUVRE THE WIRE CLOSE TO THE POLE SO THAT HE COULD REACH THE WIRE AND SET IN A PULLEY ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE POLE.

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE OPERATION HAD TO BE STOPPED DUE TO HIGH WINDS.THE WHOLE OPERATION PROVED SUCH A SUCCESS, THAT ANOTHER POWER LINE WILL BE STRUNG IN THE NEAR FUTURE FROM LAKE LOUISE UP TO MOUNT TEMPLE LODGE, FIVE MILES AWAY.ONCE MORE THE HELICOPTER HAS PROVED ITS USEFULNESS IN OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES WORKING IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF CANADA.