Aviation safety in Australia’s electricity sector is being given an extra boost by NSW distributor Essential Energy, which has become one of the world’s first power companies to adopt a new safety standard.
Electricity distributors rely on contracted aviation for powerline stringing, insulator washing, inspections, and transportation of people and cargo, with the live line environment presenting unique safety risks.
Globally, 93 accidents and incidents have occurred in the electricity industry between 2010 and 2021, tragically resulting in the loss of 48 lives, sparking the Flight Safety Foundation to develop a specialist safety standard for the sector.
Essential Energy has joined three other energy providers globally in adopting the Flight Safety Foundation’s Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) Program to guide its aviation operations.
The Program’s “Utility and Energy Sector Implementation Guidelines” complement the BAR Standard by providing additional context and detail for operations in and around power lines.
BARS Program Director David Anderson said the Program was one of only three globally recognised safety standards, and the only one for contracted aviation suppliers.
Mr Anderson said the launch of the BARStandard for the Utility and Energy sector is a big step forward in the collaborative approach of improving the safety of aviation assets involved with the power industry.
“We are very excited to have the knowledge, skills and support of Essential Energy as part of this new initiative for the BARS Program,” Mr Anderson said.
Essential Energy’s Chief Operations Officer, Luke Jenner said aircraft operations were critical to managing one of Australia’s largest electricity networks.
“Our network is dispersed over more than 737,000 square kms, with geographies ranging from snowfields to rainforests and deserts. During the recent devastating bushfires and floods, aircraft helped us get the lights back on for our customers in a timely and safe manner,” Mr Jenner said.
“Safety is our number one priority at Essential Energy, and we’re proud to be Australia’s first distribution network provider to adopt BARS to help strengthen aerial safety for our employees and contractors.
“We want a robust safety standard applying for all our aircraft activities.”
Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, international, and impartial non-profit that exists to champion the cause of aviation safety. The Foundation established the BARS Program in 2010 to review aviation operators providing aviation services.
