Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), which provides natural gas and electricity to approximately 5.2 million customers across Northern California, operates one of the largest utility-focused aviation programs in the United States. Supporting its extensive 70,000-square-mile service area, the company contracts roughly 30,000 helicopter flight hours annually. These aerial operations are a central component of PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, with helicopters equipped with LiDAR and high-resolution imaging systems conducting large-scale inspections of transmission and distribution networks to identify hazardous vegetation and infrastructure degradation.

In addition to inspection roles, PG&E employs a specialized fleet of “Firehawk” Black Hawk helicopters (operated by PJ Helicopters), to support wildfire suppression efforts in coordination with CAL FIRE and local agencies. These aircraft are capable of delivering significant volumes of water during firefighting operations, enhancing rapid initial attack capabilities. While the company is increasingly incorporating unmanned aerial systems for detailed inspections and work in densely populated areas, helicopters remain essential for transporting crews to remote terrain and performing heavy-lift construction and maintenance tasks.