Crank up the bass, sit back and enjoy an epic video ride alongside pilots of the Erickson Air-Crane, the Swiss army knife of helicopters as it lifts a repack antenna to the top of a broadcast tower in Jacksonville, Florida, courtesy of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association.
The breath-taking video focused on the topic of Helicopter Lifts as the first to debut in Volume 5 of the Association’s critically acclaimed Climber Connection series. The video made its original debut at last week’s NATE UNITE 2020 Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The video shines a spotlight on the prominent role helicopters are playing with the tall tower, broadcast repack transition activities that are taking place in the United States.
The seven minute fast-paced video provides impressive footage of a helicopter lifting heavy antennas and related-equipment to the top of a tower. The video also highlights the meticulous coordination that takes place between the tower crew and helicopter crew that must be followed in order to ensure this type of work is performed safely and efficiently.
“This video is incredible in that it peels back the curtain and allows for a glimpse into the complex, technical and coordinated nature of the broadcast repack work going on right now in the United States,” said NATE Board of Directors member John Paul Jones who is prominently featured in the video. “Utilizing helicopters for this type of work allows for the quick moving and lifting of heavy equipment and also can enhance the safety of the work,” added Jones.
The Climber Connection Volume 5 campaign was developed by the NATE Member Services Committee in conjunction with the NATE Safety & Education Committee and is designed to provide specific resources and communicate the Association’s message directly to the industry’s workforce.
