Behind the Lens by Rob Llewellyn
M
y name is Rob Llewellyn and
I’m a freelance cameraman.
I work behind the scenes
on many television shows screened
around the world and each month I
will share some of the stories behind
the scenes of the programs I am
filming.
So for my first article I am going
to tell you about a documentary I
filmed in Jonesboro, Arkansas in the
US about men who work on 500,000
volt power lines while they are still
switched on. By keeping the power
live, it enables homes, hospitals and
industry to keep working.
I met a crew of nine operators.
With four linesmen, crew chief, safety
co-ordinator, ground coordinator,
helicopter engineer and a helicopter
pilot, they reminded me of a Hells
Angels chapter. The crew chief
explained that they work from a
helicopter to avoid contact with the
ground, working on the principle
that if they don’t become ‘grounded’
they can avoid what would be certain
death. The ‘bird on a wire theory’…
though it is only a theory.
metres above me, the linesman’s legs dangling.
As we set off at 5.30am, I filmed the convoy
As they approached I heard a loud crack and
of four huge pick up trucks, each with a trailer.
saw what looked like lightening shooting from
Two were carrying parts and tools, one was
the power line to the linesman on the helicopter
carrying aviation fuel and the last one would be
platform. I couldn’t believe what I was filming -
working as a mobile helicopter workshop. We
they were touching the line, with the helicopter
met the helicopter at the job location. The task
tail rotor only a few feet from the wire. They
ahead was to replace the spacers holding the
then connected a giant ‘jump lead’ to the wire.
high voltage cables apart (the triangle shapes
The helicopter, pilot and linesman were now live
you can see in the picture). On this job the
with 500,000 volts travelling around them.
dangers of electrocution, severe burns, falling
How were they still alive? Both men wore
from the wire or the helicopter crashing are
a ‘Faraday suit’ which is made from heavy
very high.
fireproof fabric containing fine copper strands
The helicopter is fitted with two platforms
which helps most of the electricity pass around
which are attached to the skid on each side.
their body rather than through it. However,
The linesman sits and works from one, the
where the suit touches their skin they explained
other carries a generator to power their tools
that it felt like fire ants biting them.
and help counterbalance.
With another shot of lightening they had
It was now what the linesmen call ‘business
disconnected and the helicopter flew down
time’. The helicopter flew off to the line thirty
the power line to the next spacer. The four
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