The company behind plans to build a pair of wind turbines at Dundee harbour is being challenged to confirm it will not affect aircraft or radar at the city’s airport.
Forth Energy has chosen sites at Stannergate for the giant machines, the blade tips of which would be 400 feet high.
Residents have already voiced concerns about having the view from the homes spoiled, but one has raised questions about the wider impact of the development.
Norman McLean, of Primrose Bank, said, “As a local resident who witnesses the London City flights approaching Dundee, it appears to me that the proposed turbines would be directly on the flight path to the airport.False readings”It is also a well-known fact that wind turbines can cause false readings on radar systems, so locating these structures on the banks of the Tay could potentially have catastrophic consequences for air traffic using Dundee airport and the nearby RAF base at Leuchars.
“I also have concerns about how residents in the Stannergate/ Craigiebank area of the city will be able to receive their television signals from the Tay Bridge television transmitter, as these turbines will be placed directly in the line of sight of the transmitter.”
An advice note has been published by the Airports Operators Association and the General Aviation Awareness Council on safeguarding airports.Potential effectsIt states that, depending on their size, turbines as much as 15km from an airfield can interfere with the blocks of protected airspace, called obstacle limitation surfaces, that surround them and can even cause flight routes to be changed.
It adds, “Wind turbines may also interfere with an aerodrome’s radar and other aids to air navigation.”
One effect is called cluttering, and involves buildings, flocks of birds and even weather causing false signals on a radar screen.
The note states that filtering equipment can be used to prevent it.
However, it adds, “An effective means of filtering returns from rotating turbine blades has not yet been developed.”
Wind turbine developers are advised they should check with the relevant authorities to see if what they are proposing is likely to have a negative impact on the safety or operations of an airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority, the national traffic control service NATS, the Ministry of Defence and the owners of the affected airport which in Dundee’s case would be Highland and Islands Airports Ltd are on the list of consultees.
The CAA’s policy on wind turbines states, “The physical characteristics of wind turbines coupled with the size and siting of the developments can result in effects that can have an impact on aviation.National interest”Both wind energy and aviation are important to UK national interests and both industry sectors have legitimate interests that must be balanced carefully.
“As such, the aviation community must engage positively in the process of developing solutions to potential conflicts of interest between wind energy and aviation operations.”
Attempts to contact Forth Energy for comment were unsuccessful.