11 replies to this topic

[Skiing#1]

I was aware about most helicopters lift ski towers up to the mountain and install the towers down.

This first time I watched the video that the crew used the crane instead of the helicopter to install the towers up.

http://de.youtube.co...h?v=Y8KUraIK_vE

What different they use between the helicopter and the crane? I wonder why?

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 02 November 2008 - 03:09 PM

[aug]

Could you please re-phrase the question .... I do not know what you are asking

[Skiing#1]

Most crews use the helicopter lift ski towers up the mountain and set them down. But I wonder why the crew use the crane instead of the helicopter? Are the helicopter and the crane different to set ski towers up? Are they both easy way?

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 02 November 2008 - 03:35 PM

[Kicking Horse]

Crane is cheaper. however they tear up the mountain side. Hence the use of Helicopter more often then not now.

[floridaskier]

It's probably not too easy to get a crane to a lot of the tower locations, so the helicopter takes the towers high up on the mountain. From watching the PCMR webcam this summer, it looks like they installed the first few towers near the base on the flat ground by crane and the rest by helicopter

[Peter]

The places this summer that have used cranes are Poley Mountain NB, Whitetail PA, and Hidden Valley PA where it is flat enough for a crane to just drive up the lift line. Most places this is not possible.

[mikest2]

It's all about time. When you fly them, you stage them all from the same place. If you use a crane, you have to spot the towers and yokes at each tower site. Flying, you can knock of the whole lift in just a few hours. The static belts from flying steel are way more fun too !

[Lift Kid]

One big thing too is helicopter availability. I recall last year that many helicopters were assisting in firefighting with the wildfires. Another thing, as stated, cost. Cranes are cheaper, helicopters are expensive. Sometimes, the entire lift can be installed via crane. Sometimes helicopter is the only way. Sometimes a combination of both works well. Also as stated, if the resort is going for the non environmental impact theme, cranes destroy everything that they go over, while helicopters don't affect anything on the ground.

[Peter]

Lift Kid, on Nov 2 2008, 08:05 PM, said:

One big thing too is helicopter availability. I recall last year that many helicopters were assisting in firefighting with the wildfires. Another thing, as stated, cost. Cranes are cheaper, helicopters are expensive. Sometimes, the entire lift can be installed via crane. Sometimes helicopter is the only way. Sometimes a combination of both works well. Also as stated, if the resort is going for the non environmental impact theme, cranes destroy everything that they go over, while helicopters don't affect anything on the ground.

As much as I'd like to think it is resorts choosing the environmentally friendly option, I bet it has more to do with what government regulations they are subject to. Remember when Tim Blixseth was fined $2.8 million for erosion at the Yellowstone Club a few years back?

[Allan]

The old Silverlode was installed by crane - the new one was by heli. We were told if ya gotta fly one tower - might as well fly them all since you've got the machine on site already.

[Lift Kid]

Skier, on Nov 2 2008, 10:34 PM, said:

As much as I'd like to think it is resorts choosing the environmentally friendly option, I bet it has more to do with what government regulations they are subject to. Remember when Tim Blixseth was fined $2.8 million for erosion at the Yellowstone Club a few years back?

I've seen it used as an advertising thing too though. And non-industry people buy it.

[Solaris]

Helicopters are extremely expensive to use but have easy access to remote mountain locations. Time constraints, weather conditions, environmental regulations, difficult terrain are usually the main reasons a heavy lift chopper would be used. The negative side is that you are usually responsible for the ferry costs of the helicopter from it's base or current location. It can be extremely dangerous without a experienced ground crew.