Given the close proximity of the North Palo Duro Canyon to the city, small planes from Tradewinds airport, located only a few miles north of the canyon, as well as helicopters and planes from the Amarillo International Airport area, including military tiltrotor aircraft such as the Osprey, fly low over the canyon day and night. For example, the picture above was taken the same day as the videos for our first virtual hike. The helicopter was flying very low and hovered several times, just a few feet above the trees.
This is a common sight in the canyons. Below is another picture of the helicopter, as it turned away.
In spite of the ugliness of the safety measures, these measures are not always enough, as many helicopters and planes still collide with transmission lines, especially when the lines are unexpected, as they would be in the curving canyon.
Multiple accidents have also occurred with helicopters owned by subcontractors hired by utility companies to service and inspect transmission lines. Such helicopter servicing would be required in the canyon due to inaccessibility of the lines, and could likely be necessary during dangerous weather conditions.
Also, helicopters used in canyon rescue missions will be at risk of getting hung up in the lines. This could pose a serious hindrance and threat to rescue personnel who often have to locate and rescue hikers who cannot make it out of the canyon.
If there was a crash in the canyon, rescuers would have difficulty reaching the downed aircraft. In addition, such an accident could easily start a fire.
Another concern is the Pirates of the Canyon balloon festival held annually in the Palo Duro Canyon State Park to benefit the March of Dimes. The hot air balloons often drift northward toward the line paths and could easily become entangled in the tall lines. Powered parachutes are also a common sight in the canyon. These aircraft are particularly vulnerable to getting caught up in the lines as they are light and easily blown off course by the turbulent wind gusts coming out of the canyon.
Given that there is no necessity to cross the canyon with transmission lines as the canyon can easily be avoided altogether, it makes no sense to create these kinds of unnecessary risks to the aircraft in the Amarillo area and to the canyon.
