Oliver Friedel

Monitoring hundreds of kilometers of pipeline and high-voltage power lines from the air requires more than just flying – it demands absolute concentration and precision in continuous operation. With over 1,300 hours of experience in this sector, I have learned to identify even the smallest anomalies, often in challenging weather and with the need for spontaneous off-airport landings.

A particularly challenging mission was the inspection of the high-voltage power line at the Walchensee power plant in the Bavarian Alps using a thermal camera. The steep terrain required highly precise maneuvers during slow flight to keep the camera steadily aimed at the power line and reliably detect “hot spots” – telltale signs of impending defects.

Commercial flying in Iceland is among the most demanding in the world, constantly requiring the pilot’s utmost attention. The challenge here lies not only in the changeable, arctic weather but primarily in assessing landing areas.

Especially in winter, landings on freshly fallen powder snow are a complex task. Slopes in the terrain are barely discernible under diffuse light conditions or whiteout conditions. Every landing on a glacier like Vatnajökull is unique and requires a quick, precise analysis of wind, snow, and potential hazards like crevasses. Safely applying these skills even during tourist sightseeing flights to active volcanic eruptions defines the essence of flying in this unique environment.

A ferry flight of this magnitude is less of a pure flying challenge and more of a logistical and navigational one. The task was to transfer an AS350 from Germany to Kazakhstan in just three days.

The greatest complexity lay in coordinating with the various ground and air stakeholders. This included working with handling agencies for refueling in remote areas, constant replanning due to unexpected delays in airport procedures, and navigating through the airspaces of countries like Georgia and Azerbaijan. In these regions, air traffic controllers are often not accustomed to VFR helicopter traffic, which required clear, proactive, and often unconventional communication to complete the mission safely and on schedule.