Crews dangle 900-pound chainsaw from helicopter to trim trees in Ohio

Tuesday, March 17, 2015, 3:30 PM - Ohio officials have a unique approach to gardening: They dangle a 900-pound chainsaw from a helicopter to trim trees.

The giant contraption could be seen flying through the skies in Butler County this week -- and it caused a spike in 911 calls from concerned residents.

The chainsaw hangs 75 feet below the helicopter to trim trees near transmission lines. It's a delicate operation that could end in disaster if it wasn't for the pilot's steady hand.

"You have to see it and then you believe it," Butler County Emergency Management Director Jeff Galloway told WLWT5 News.

"And then you buy into the whole operation, and that is quite an operation. But it's a safe operation and those guys are pros."

A tree-trimming job takes about five minutes via helicopter, whereas it would take a ground crew several days to complete.

Officials say that while it looks dangerous, the practice is safer than sending workers up transmission poles with chainsaws.

The heli-chainsaw is used once a year in the count, before the spring season brings in strong winds and heavy rain.

Next week, the helicopter will be moving to another county.

Here's file footage of the chainsaw in action: 

Source: WLWT5