If you do accidentally fly into a power line or substation, it’s very important that you don’t try and retrieve it yourself, spokesperson Lauren Siburkis said. Call 1-888-544-4877 (1-888-LIGHTSS) and have a professional do it.
“We can replace damaged equipment with new equipment,” Siburkis said. “We can’t bring back a life. Our main message here is creating safety awareness to keep customers safe.”
FirstEnergy first launched the ad campaign in late summer. It’s reupping its efforts during the holiday season, which is when they expect many teens and children will get drones as gifts.
There are over 870,000 drones registered with the Federal Aviation Administration, according to the agency, and more than 307,000 remote pilots are certified.
There are more toy drones that aren’t registered. According to the FAA, drones that weigh under 0.55 pounds don’t need to be registered.
Siburkis said she can’t talk couldn’t share details about specific incidents but said there have been a few times locally where this messaging would have helped. As drones become more prevalent, so do drone-related issues.
“It’s local and its relevant and it’s information people who are operating drones need to take seriously,” she said.
While drones can cause power outages, the real issue is safety, Siburkis said, especially with teens and young kids who are using drones.
She said pilots shouldn’t be afraid to call if they do get their drones stuck.
“We understand that accidents happen and you’re not going to be in trouble if your drone gets stuck in our power equipment if we have to retrieve it,” Siburkis.
Much of the advertising is geared toward younger people.
Siburkis said FirstEnergy is doing a lot of paid advertising on Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook to reach its target demographic. You may also hear radio ads, but there aren’t an TV sports in this campaign.
FirstEnergy also released a video game called “Drone Safety Zone.” It lets you customize and race drones virtually through an arena filled with obstacles. It can be found at dronesafetygame.com.
Before each race, players have to answer drone-safety questions and best practices for flying. Answering questions right will give them in-game boosts to help them fly faster than other players.
“We hope that using a non-traditional way to reach teens and tweens would help them retain what they learn in the game,” Siburkis said. “Our goal was to strike a balance between excitement and education, and that’s where the idea for a video game took flight.”
The utility company has been an early adopter of drones itself, Siburkis said. FirstEnergy has 15 licensed drone pilots. They received extensive training before taking to the skies. The training is especially needed around power lines.
Electricity causes magnetic interference, which can cause a drone to lose controls and crash. Siburkis said FirstEnergy’s pilots are trained to deal with these situations, most recreational pilots aren’t.
FirstEnergy is running this campaign across its six-state coverage area. While they’re providing many safety tips, there’s one easy one.
If you look up and see electrical equipment — power lines, utility poles, etc. — you’re too close to them to fly.
Here are some other safety tips:
- Become a licensed pilot before flying a drone.
- Register your drone with the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Fly your drone at or below 400 feet.
- Do not fly in dark or windy conditions.
- Keep your drone where you can see it.
- Stay at least 200 feet away from power lines or other electrical equipment.
- Never try to get your drone if it crashes near a downed line or substation. Call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), and FirstEnergy will help you retrieve it safely.
©2022 Advance Local Media LLC, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
