In the era of drones and automation, a South Dakota man continues to do extremely risky work – every six months he climbs a giant telecommunications tower to replace a single bulb.
A man with a light bulb on top of the world
Kevin Schmidt from Sioux Falls Tower and Communications is one of the few specialists in the United States who regularly climb constructions that reach almost half a kilometer up. Its task is to maintain and replace warning lights on towers – they signal the presence of obstacles to aircraft flying at night over South Dakota.
460 meters and thousands of spectators
The tower that Schmidt climbs twice a year has about 457 meters high – more than Empire State Building. The entrance itself takes up to two hours and requires extreme precision, excellent condition and steel nerves. Film showing this process has become viral – it has already been watched millions of times on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. The drone images show a man climbing with a bag of tools, and at the top he replaces a tiny bulb that depends on the safety of flights.
How much does a man really earn that changes light bulbs at 1,500 feet?
There's a lot of rumors about Schmidt's gigantic earnings in the network – some sources even mention Twenty thousand dollars For a single entrance. However, the actual remuneration is much lower. According to newer information, employees of this type receive about $200 for the exchange of bulbs, which is responsible for the market rates for high-pressure work in the US.
Such a large discrepancy shows how much undervalued the professions require courage, precision and experience. Although Schmidt is not a millionaire, his Work is of great importance to air traffic safety.
What makes him impossible to replace?
Some viewers joke that light bulbs on towers should be exchanged by drones Or solar-powered. The problem is that such high constructions often find themselves in places where precision and safety do not allow automation. Many activities must be done by man – manually, with full control, in extreme wind conditions reaching 60 miles per hour.
Invisible heroes of height
What would be a height nightmare for most would become a routine for Kevin Schmidt. It climbs systematically, documents its selfie expeditions from the clouds, and its calm and professionalism impresses the Internet users.
His history recalls that heroes are not always on the screen – sometimes they are people who risk their lives once every six months so that we can look at the night sky safely.
