Alyssa Grigoryan has been studying to get her Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA so she can become a certified drone pilot. She hopes to get her license in the next few months, a process that was put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s something she was determined to do when she took on the role of principal manager overseeing Southern California Edison’s aerial inspections team in April, a group that uses drones and helicopters to inspect electrical equipment throughout the service territory’s high fire risk areas.

“Drones are difficult to maneuver, especially around electrical equipment,” said Grigoryan, noting that her staff and contractors inspect between 8,000-10,000 structures each week. “Drones can view a structure from the top down to help minimize fire risk. They also help enhance safety because it reduces instances of crews climbing structures.”

Grigoryan, a former Air Force personnel specialist who speaks Spanish, Russian and Armenian fluently, works closely with SCE’s Air Operations to ensure safe aerial inspections. Drone crews tend to work in densely populated neighborhoods since they are quieter and less invasive than helicopters. Helicopters focus on inspections in more remote areas, such as deserts and mountains.

Each week, 23 drone crews — two-person teams that consist of a pilot and visual observer — visit neighborhoods to inspect electrical equipment like poles, crossarms, transformers and transmission towers. The crews, wearing masks and social distancing, will knock on doors to explain the work they will be doing. If no one is home, they will leave a door hanger with information and a contact number.

As the drones fly and hover over the electrical equipment, they are able to quickly snap images. The assets are then reviewed by inspectors who look for any signs of damage, including missing cotter keys/pins, crossarm damage or poles that show deterioration.

“We are looking at assets for what is not visible from the ground up. We are looking for any kind of structural damage that could lead to an ignition,” said Grigoryan, who noted that if an issue is found, the appropriate SCE district is notified. Damage assessed as a priority 1 is fixed within 24 hours.

Drone inspections currently make up about 25% of all of SCE’s aerial inspections. The majority are still conducted by helicopters since they are able to cover more ground and are faster than drones. Still, the number of drone inspections is increasing.

With more customers at home during the pandemic, some have expressed concerns when they see the drones working in their communities. All SCE drone operators are required to follow the utility’s stringent confidentiality policies and procedures. SCE drone operators also comply with all FAA regulations.

“We are using drones and helicopters to identify ignition risk and mitigate wildfires and minimize impact to our customers and our communities. Ultimately, we’re doing this for public safety,” said Grigoryan. “We are here to prevent possible fires from starting.”