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Iowans who see low-flying helicopters near transmission lines in the next few weeks should fear not — the flights are part of regular maintenance by ITC Midwest.

The company, which has its headquarters in Cedar Rapids, operates more than 6,600 circuit miles of transmission lines in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin. The lines carry energy acr oss the power grid.

The aerial inspections are required by the North American Electrical Reliability Corporation (NERC) as part of ITC Midwest’s vegetation management program. They also “align with the company’s model for operational excellence,” according to a news release announcing the inspections.

The flights will last from Sept. 2

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