The Problem
The 2018 Camp Fire destroyed nearly 19,000 buildings. The 2023 Eaton Fire burned over 14,000 acres. The 2023 Maui wildfire killed at least 102 people. All were sparked by utility equipment.
In fact, 1 in 5 wildfires in the U.S. are caused by power lines—leading to over $10B in annual liability.
Utilities inspect their power lines every 5 to 15 years, if that. But equipment is aging—70% of transmission lines are over 25 years old—and over half of lineworkers are approaching retirement.
These disasters aren't outliers. They're symptoms of a much more systemic problem. Not just utilities, but all of America's critical infrastructure is in an observability crisis.
Our Solution
Finding fire hazards before they spark disasters
A complete inspection service, not just drones
We're building a comprehensive inspection service. Our drones will traverse thousands of miles unaided—periodically recharging on the line—as they follow power lines from above, delivering actionable maintenance data directly to your team. Learn more:
No Hardware to Buy
We will handle the drone development. You get the insights.
Continuous Inspections
Recharging off the line enables 24/7 operations
Sensor Fusion
Integrated visual, thermal, and ultrasonic sensing—high quality data collected at close range
American Made
Our drones will be all American made, with blue UAS designation in progress
Our Software Platform
Our autonomous hardware will generate time-rich data on the power grid. This data will enable monthly maintenance updates with precise geolocation.
Foliage Encroachment
Continuous tracking of vegetation growth near power lines
Precise Geolocation
Exact location tracking for all maintenance issues
Predictive Analytics
Time-rich data enables predictive ML models
Actionable Reports
Autogenerated maintenance tickets integrated with your systems
Our Impact
Stop Fires
Identify vegetation encroachment that could contribute to wildfire risk
Cut Insurance Premiums
Inspection frequency is correlated with lower wildfire-related risk exposure
Automation
Reduces manual inspections so linemen can focus on fixing problems and preventing fires
Our Service
Wildfire Preventative Inspections
Our service aims to help reduce wildfire risk by identifying vegetation hazards and equipment issues before they become threats. The key to reducing fire risk is frequent inspection—we plan to survey the full overhead network six times per year, achieving 60x the inspection frequency of traditional methods at a cost aligned with standard utility inspection budgets. Actual outcomes depend on utility engagement and response.
PSPS Protocol & Fault Response
For planned shutoffs, our drones will conduct pre-event inspections to document line conditions. For unplanned outages, a nearby drone will fly in when safe, or a drone already perched on the line will wake from standby to inspect using reserve power. With drones distributed across the system, we will maintain visibility before, during, and after PSPS events. Actual outcomes depend on utility engagement and response.
Learn more about how we anticipate deploying our service safely and managing risks in critical infrastructure environments:
Mission
At Voltair, our mission is to keep America's lights on. We aim to support utility operations through faster, more frequent overhead line inspections—enabling better decision-making and resilience. We strive to build reliability and antifragility into America's critical infrastructure.
Partner With Us
Contact Us
We're looking for utilities to help us shape the future of aerial inspections through limited-scope development partnerships.
Schedule a Meeting
Development Partner Benefits
Direct Engineering Partnership
Work directly with our engineering team to ensure our solution meets your specific needs.
Industry Recognition
Be recognized as a forward-thinking utility leading the future of grid inspection technology.
Voltair in the News
Founding Team
Cofounder & Utility Deployment Strategist
Worked in system protection at Seattle City Light and has an offer to join Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. Hayden brings frontline grid expertise to Voltair, drawing from his Electrical & Computer Engineering studies focused on power systems.
Founding Pilot
Pilot-in-training and current student at the University of Washington. Hudson brings together startup experience and user-based experience to design effective and pragmatic hardware. He is currently studying aerospace engineering at the University of Washington and Aviation at Emerald Squadron.
Advisors
Aerospace Executive Advisor
- CEO of magniX and Executive Chairman of Eviation, led the world's first electric commercial aircraft flights and secured a $75M NASA contract.
- Former Boeing executive; Chief Customer Officer for Boeing Flight Services, oversaw global revenue and customer engagement.
- Now CEO of Alitheon®. Career spans aerospace, SaaS, investment banking, and military service.
Join Our Team
Interested in joining our team? Email us at: info@voltairlabs.com