Some people have been asking questions about a low-flying helicopter that's been observed in Broome County in recent days.

Bob Joseph/WNBF News
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Bob Joseph/WNBF News [file][/caption]

The aircraft they've seen likely is a helicopter being flown as NYSEG and Lockheed Martin test a new damage assessment technology.

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Bob Joseph/WNBF News [file][/caption]

According to NYSEG, the companies are assessing imaging equipment to determine how it may help utilities collect information on damage to electricity delivery systems after major storms.

Lockheed Martin will test the technology along distribution circuits in and around Binghamton, Endicott, Union, Maine, Whitney Point and Nanticoke.

NYSEG spokesman Clayton Ellis said the helicopter flights over the area may continue for about two weeks

Raw data collected during flyovers will be passed through computer processing algorithms developed by Lockheed. An evaluation system then will provide NYSEG with specific locations and details of damage.

For the test flights, NYSEG crews have simulated storm damage to poles, wires and other equipment at the company's Johnson City training facility.

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