ITC Midwest, an independent electricity transmission company, is planning to do aerial patrols of high-voltage transmission structures and lines from June 6 - 20.

The Cedar Rapids-based company says the helicopter patrols will be throughout multiple states. In Iowa, the flights will be conducted include the Beacon, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, DeWitt, Eddyville, Fort Madison, Iowa City, Keokuk, Marion, Ottumwa and Palo areas.

The Iowa counties where the aerial patrols will be conducted include Appanoose, Cedar, Clinton, Davis, Des Moines, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Henry, Lee, Linn, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek and Wapello.

According to the company, the patrols are a North American Electrical Reliability Corporation (NERC) requirement for ITC Midwest's vegetation management program.

The flights will also include inspecting vegetation near transmission structures, wood poles, conductors (wires), insulators, and other equipment.

Since the inspection flights are conducted at low altitudes, the company assures there is no cause for alarm if a low-flying helicopter is sighted near transmission lines from June 6 -20.