Mechanics Use Helicopters to Service Massive UK Turbines
Ever seen the pieces of a wind turbine up close? Let me tell you, they're freaking massive. The gear housing (called the nacelle) is about the size of a small condo, the blades are hundreds of feet across, and inside the 300ft tall base there's a super long ladder to climb. Needless to say, servicing one of these bad boys isn't for the faint of heart -- or anyone with a fear of heights.
Starting in late 2009, if you want to be a turbine mechanic on Britain's Greater Gabbard wind farm, you'll have to be one notch crazier. That's because the maintenance staff for the ginormous 3.6MW turbines will be lowered onto the top of the turbines by helicopter. Rather than visit the 140 offshore windmills by sea, Bond Air Services has purchased a EC135 from Eurocopter to shuttle mechanics back and forth to change the oil in those giant things. Apparently, the chopper will save the crew some travel time and a lot of climbing. Craziness.
[via GroovyGreen]
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