what are the balls for that are attached to some power lines?

Answer 1

The large globes are known as aircraft warning markers. They are used to make the power lines more visible to pilots. When you or I look up at the wires, they are seen against the blue (or gray) sky. When pilots look down, the wires tend to blend in with the ground.

The balls generally range is size from 30" to 52" in diameter.

You'll often see the markers on wires that are inline with the end of a runway. While there is plenty of clearance for the planes and their glide slope, many locations put up the markers anyway. They will also appear over large river crossings where it is common for pilots to fly along the path of the river.

Any structure that exceeds an overall height of 200 feet (ft) above the surrounding terrain should normally be marked. The FAA may also recommend marking a structure of lesser height located within 20,000 ft of an airport or 5,000 ft of a heliport.

Answer 2

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RE:
what are the balls for that are attached to some power lines?

Answer 3

They are generally placed there to give the lines a larger profile so people like Crop Duster pilots can see them...If you approach a long open span at a high rate of speed the horizontal catenary lines sometimes just blend right into the horizon.. There are many pilots who can explain how windscreen spider-cracks have been "dodged" and there are many pilots who can't tell you about the power lines they wish they had missed....Good luck from the E...

Answer 4

They are mounted on power lines to make them easier to see, so that airplanes or cranes or such do not hit them. you see them on certain lines where airplanes or tall equipment are likely to go, or where the lines are particularly long or hard to see. While from the ground it is easy to identify where the powerlines are against the sky as a backdrop, the thin lines are often difficult to see from the air with a varied terrain backdrop. those balls called '' wire strikes '' .

Answer 5

A lot of airplane answers, all true. Another instance is when power lines span wide valleys and canyons in mountainous areas, where in some cases they can be close to 1000 feet above the ground.

Answer 6

Those orange balls you see on power lines are to make powerlines visible to low flying aircraft to avoid collision. They usually are present in rural communities and rarely in metropolitan areas (unless near landing strips) because crop dusting aircraft have the tendecy to fly at unusually low altitudes were powerlines become a potentual hazard.

Answer 7

Usually those are put on power lines that are near Airports.
They're there so the pilots can see where the lines are.

Answer 8

They are just warnings for aircrafts so they don't run into the power lines.

Answer 9

To warn low flying aircraft of the wires, that is why they are usually seen over rivers or roads as aircraft will often use those routes to aid in navigation.

Answer 10

If it's balls I am thinking of, they are to make the electric lines more visible to helicopters. You will find them around hospitals and other places helicopters land and take off.