Episode #121 - Power in the Sky: Verticon 2025 with Pete Anderson of PG&E – The Helicopter Podcast

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Welcome to The Helicopter Podcast, brought to you by Vertical
HeliCASTS!

In this electrifying episode, host Halsey Schider brings The
Helicopter Podcast to the buzzing floor of Verticon 2025, sitting
down with Pete Anderson, senior manager of helicopter operations
at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

As California’s biggest utility—powering one in 20
Americans—PG&E leans on its aviation muscle, and Pete—with 28
years on the job—has lived it all. From lineman days on
high-voltage lines to running a top-tier helicopter outfit, he
shares a charged view of keeping the grid humming from
above.

Pete dives into PG&E’s daring missions: Crews in Faraday
suits tackling live 500kV lines mid-flight, helicopters hauling
towers and concrete, and human external cargo ops slinging
linemen for over 14,000 hours a year. With Black Hawks, a 50-year
tie to PJ Helicopters, and a peak of 75 ships in a day, the scale
is stunning. He highlights picking versatile Bell 407s and
seasoned pilots with laser focus, plus LiDAR scans to dodge
wildfire risks. Pete also reflects on safety’s evolution—rigorous
training, linemen in crew resource management—and nods to drones
stepping up for new tasks.

Join Halsey and Pete live from Verticon for a jolt of real-world
wisdom on powering California with helicopters and beyond!

Thank you to our sponsors Vertical Aviation International,
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation and Hillsboro Heli Academy.