Skip to main content
Home
  • About Us
    • Annual Report
  • Powering the Future
    • Our Energy Mix
  • Electrify and Save®
    • On-Bill Repayment
    • Programs
    • Quality Install
  • Media
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Features
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Podcast
  • Cooperative Benefits
  • Operations
  • Search
Menu

Search form

Drones for Current

 

A Tri-State drone pilot operates a drone near a cooperative substation.

 

Drone pilots take safety and reliability to new heights

Although it is not well-known outside of our generation and transmission cooperative and its members, there are 38 Tri-State employees who are also drone pilots as part of their job. A drone, or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is an aircraft that is controlled remotely without a human pilot on board.

Tri-State started using drones in 2019, when it brought in a few for Transmission Maintenance line inspections. Over time, the program has grown extensively to include many different uses. Drone technology helps Tri-State work safer, smarter, and faster in areas such as transmission line inspections, wildfire mitigation and environmental restoration.

Why drones?

Drones can inspect hard-to-reach infrastructure and capture detailed images safely and efficiently. For example, linemen can use a drone to inspect five or six transmission structures from a single point on the ground. Alternatives like helicopters or traveling to each individual structure can take more time, cost and effort.

How drones help Tri-State

Tri-State operates a fleet of 24 drones flown by certified drone pilots, most of whom are linemen and substation techs in Transmission Maintenance, but their uses vary to include:

  • Transmission and substation inspections: inspect for defects and capture images of wear on towers and lines;
  • Wildfire mitigation: identify areas of vegetation encroachment to prioritize vegetation management projects;
  • Construction and planning: conduct corridor studies for new transmission lines;
  • Environmental reclamation: survey sediment and ash at reclamation sites such as the former Escalante Generating Station in Grants, N.M.; and 
  • Experimental projects: as drone technology becomes more mainstream in our work, the team has tested various drone equipment and uses to support our mission.

Who are the pilots and what it takes

Not just anyone can fly a drone. It is a specialized skill that requires pilots to be certified under the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Part 107 rules. Certification requires an intense exam that covers topics such as airspace regulations, weather and emergency procedures. This is the same ground training that commercial and private pilots start with as they work on their licenses. Pilots must be recertified every two years.

Once a drone pilot is FAA certified, they are trained by Tri-State GIS Project Manager David Mitchell, who oversees and runs the drone program at Tri-State. This training focuses on job and Tri-State specific knowledge for drone use-cases. This includes sessions for flying around energized lines with an emphasis on safety protocols. The training location can vary and is done along transmission lines in the Tri-State right-of-way.

When drone pilots are working on the job, they are accompanied by another employee who acts as the “visual observer.” While the pilot is working on the controls and camera, there is someone watching the drone and sky to avoid collisions or other issues. The visual observer is not required to be FAA certified.

Looking ahead

As drone technology becomes more common at Tri-State, our generation and transmission cooperative is evaluating advanced capabilities and testing proof of concepts. One example includes Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. Currently, drones must always be in the pilot’s line of sight. Mitchell is working on a potential FAA waiver that would enable broader corridor mapping and inspections. Tri-State also is looking at standardized inspection photography which could allow AI to detect structural changes over time by comparing photos.

 

Contributor: 

Megan Reichert

 

Blog Posts

summer storm safety tips in Colorado

Important Summer Storm Safety Tips

As monsoon season gears up, we’re sharing some tips to keep you, your home and your family safe. We’ll also tell you a little about our operations and how we prepare for Mother Nature’s most impressive – and potentially disruptive – shows of force. 
Kent Mahanna, MPH, CSP Senior Manager Safety & Security
Read more >
safe power for your home gyms

How to Safely Power Your Home Workouts

Dedicating an area to a home gym is one way to get the most out of an unused garage, basement or room. Taking some basic electrical safety precautions can keep your equipment up to speed for leg day, arm day and all the activity in between. 
Kent Mahanna, MPH, CSP Senior Manager Safety & Security
Read more >
Renewable Energy Solar Camping Gadgets

The Best Solar Camping Gadgets for Summer

While you’re getting some much-needed R&R in nature, harness its power to charge your devices, and even cook your meals. Keep your experience in the great outdoors sustainable with these solar camping gadgets – plus one biomass solution. 
Matt Fitzgibbon, Beneficial Electrification Manager
Read more >
Electric generator safety tips

Important Generator Safety Tips

When electricity isn’t available, some businesses and families resort to generators to power homes, campsites, construction sites or important equipment. While these helpful machines are a lifesaver, there are important generator tips and safety precautions that must be followed.
Kent Mahanna, MPH, CSP Senior Manager Safety & Security
Read more >
top 4 electrical safety tips for kids

4 Electrical Safety Tips Every Kid Should Know

There are 4 electrical safety tips every kid should know. Can you guess what they are?
Michelle Pastor, Senior Education Program Advisor
Read more >
How to Cool Your Home Without Central Air Conditioning

How to Cool Your Home Without Central Air Conditioning

Keeping your home cool this summer doesn’t have to require a huge budget or a relocation to the Southern Hemisphere for a little more of winter. It also doesn’t have to mean large increases to your electric bill or energy use. Here we've outlined other cooling ideas for your home, which vary from room-specific solutions to whole-house AC alternatives.
Peter Rusin, Member Relations Manager
Read more >
6 Energy-Saving Tips for Your Home in Summer

6 Energy-Saving Tips to Get Your Home Ready for Summer

Temperatures are on the rise, and summer is predicted to be hotter than average, according to both the National Weather Service and Old Farmer’s Almanac Guide. Here are 6 energy-saving tips you can implement to ensure your home is ready for the heat, without spending a lot of money or energy. 
Myles Jensen, Senior Manager Member Relations
Read more >
Members of Tri-State direct and support our future Rick Gordon, chair and president

Members of Tri-State direct and support our future Rick Gordon, chair and president

While each utility member has a different perspective, what these letters show is they all agree that Tri-State is on the right path - a path our utility members set themselves
Rick Gordon, Chairman of the Board
Read more >
Cooperatives Bringing Electric Vehicle Chargers to Rural Communities

Cooperatives Bringing Electric Vehicle Chargers to Rural Communities

Bringing public EV chargers to rural areas is not only a service to residents who will drive EVs (including the impressive electric pickup trucks and SUVs coming onto the market soon), but it will also be an economic necessity in the not-too-distant future.
Matt Fitzgibbon, Beneficial Electrification Manager
Read more >

Pagination

  • First page« First
  • Previous page‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page   3
  • Page   4
  • Page   5
  • Page   6
  • Page   7
  • Page   8
  • Currently on page   9
  • Page   10
  • Page   11
  • Next pageNext ›
  • Last pageLast »

Subscribe

* indicates required
Join our mailing list for
updates and member news.
 
 

Quick links

  • Leadership Team
  • Dark Fiber
  • Financials
  • Board Meetings
  • Member Tools
  • The Cooperative Difference
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Careers
  • Employee login

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association
Office: 303-452-6111
1100 West 116th Avenue
Westminster, CO 80234

Mailing address:
PO Box 33695
Denver, CO 80233-0695

©2025 Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. Power supplier to the rural west.

  • About Us
    • Annual Report
  • Powering the Future
    • Our Energy Mix
  • Electrify and Save®
    • On-Bill Repayment
    • Programs
    • Quality Install
  • Media
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Features
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Podcast
  • Cooperative Benefits
  • Operations
  • Search