First OMAC T30.h Helicopter Tensioner & Stand Arrives in Australia

A Landmark Milestone for Helicopter Stringing in Australia

Overview

Australia has reached a defining milestone in high-voltage transmission line construction: the arrival of the first OMAC T30.h Hydraulic Helicopter Tensioner and Stand on Australian soil. This purpose-built machine represents a step-change in capability for aerial conductor stringing, bringing European engineering excellence and uncompromising safety standards to some of the country’s most demanding infrastructure projects.

The T30.h is now deployed on major transmission line projects in the Yass, New South Wales area, one of Australia’s largest active transmission corridors, and marks the first of many OMAC machines set to enter the Australian market for this category of work.

Background

Helicopter stringing is one of the most technically demanding and safety-critical operations in the transmission line industry. Conductors must be paid out at precise, controlled tensions while a helicopter maintains flight, often in challenging terrain where ground access is limited or impossible. Any sudden variation in speed or tension can create catastrophic risk for both the ground crew and the aircraft.

Until now, the Australian market has had limited access to tensioning equipment purpose-engineered for helicopter stringing. The OMAC T30.h changes that, introducing a machine specifically designed from the ground up for this application, with safety at the absolute forefront of its engineering brief.

The OMAC T30.h Machine Overview

The OMAC T30.h is a 30 kN hydraulic tensioner engineered exclusively for helicopter stringing of a single conductor. Every system on this machine has been designed to manage the unique dynamics of aerial stringing: variable helicopter speed, rapid deceleration events, and the need for absolute braking consistency regardless of external conditions.

The machine also functions as a winch, enabling operators to recover cable and conductor when required, adding significant operational flexibility to the equipment’s capability set.

Technical Specifications

Safety by Design

The OMAC T30.h has been engineered with the safety of both ground crew and helicopter crew as the primary design constraint. A suite of redundant safety systems ensures that braking force remains controlled under all foreseeable failure scenarios, a critical requirement when a helicopter is connected to the line

Core Safety Features

Constant braking force: The machine maintains accurate, preset braking force regardless of helicopter speed, even during rapid deceleration events.

• Engine failure protection: A dedicated safety device prevents sudden stoppage in the event of diesel engine breakdown, allowing controlled unwinding at reduced speed (maximum 5 km/h) until the situation is resolved.
• Electrical circuit failure protection: A safety device maintains preset braking force and speed (maximum 25 km/h) in the event of an electrical circuit failure, preventing uncontrolled release of tension.
• Radio remote control: Full wireless control of the machine is provided as standard, keeping operators at a safe distance during stringing operations.
• Grounding connection point: An integrated grounding point ensures safe electrical bonding of the machine and conductor system at all times.

These layered safety systems mean that no single point of failure, mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical, can result in an uncontrolled release of tension. For helicopter stringing, where consequences of loss of control are severe, this redundancy is essential.

Control Panel & Data Monitoring

The T30.h’s control panel is equipped with a built-in electronic instrument featuring a large colour display and data recorder. The system provides real-time visibility of all critical stringing parameters and full audit-trail data logging for project records and compliance.

Instrument Function

• Real-time display of pulling force, line speed, and rope/conductor length paid out.
• Setting and monitoring of maximum braking force thresholds.
• Display of machine working hours for maintenance scheduling.
• Data logging with USB port and flash-disk storage.
• Data processing software supplied for post-job analysis and reporting.

This level of instrumentation means project teams have full traceability of stringing data, a growing requirement on major infrastructure projects where as-built documentation and tensioning records are required for handover.

Significance for the Australian Market

The arrival of the OMAC T30.h in Australia is more than a new equipment addition, it represents the introduction of a purpose-built, internationally proven helicopter stringing platform to a market that has long relied on adapted equipment for this work.

The machine is now operational on some of Australia’s largest transmission line projects in the Yass, NSW region, where terrain and scale make helicopter stringing not just preferable, but often the only viable construction method. Its deployment here signals a new standard for how this work will be carried out in Australia going forward.

This is the first of many OMAC machines planned for the Australian market. As transmission infrastructure investment accelerates across the country, purpose-built helicopter stringing equipment will be central to delivering projects on time, safely, and to specification.

Key Highlights

First OMAC T30.h helicopter tensioner to arrive in Australia.

• Purpose-built for helicopter stringing — not an adaptation of ground-based equipment.
• Multiple redundant safety systems protecting both ground and helicopter crew.
• 30 kN rated capacity with 2 × 1,500 mm bull wheels and up to 34 mm conductor diameter.
• Radio remote control supplied as standard.
• Integrated data logging and real-time instrumentation for project compliance.
• Dual function: tensioner and winch for conductor recovery.
• Currently deployed on major transmission projects in Yass, NSW.
• First of multiple OMAC machines entering the Australian market.