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Aviation

Half of all wind farm developments in the UK will face objections from aviation stakeholders on the grounds of radar interference, obstruction or impact to low flying. The BWEA is working with BERR, NATS En Route, the CAA and the MOD to address aviation concerns, and here you will find background and useful reference material as well as information on current activities.

1 October 2008 NATS En Route has published a position paper on mitigating the effects of wind turbines on NATS En Route Ltd(NERL) operations, which can be found at the following link http://www.nats.co.uk/text/248/nats_and_windfarms.html. The paper outlines the minimum expectations that proposed mitigation measures will normally be expected to satisfy, and aims to highlight the issues which will need to be considered by developers in considering these mitigation techniques.

NERL will also be presenting the paper at the BWEA 30 conference in one of our Aviation sessions. For more information please see www.bwea30.com

16 June 2008 On Friday 13th June the BWEA, BERR, DfT, MOD, NATS and the CAA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to demonstrate a shared commitment to remove aviation and radar barriers in wind farm development.

The MOU identifies the structure for how BERR, BWEA, the Department of Transport (DfT), NATS En Route, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the MOD will work together in addressing these issues. Within the MOU there is an Aviation Plan that identifies individual work-streams that are needed to develop and implement workable solutions. Under the MOU, all parties commit to implement the Aviation Plan, which defines mitigation activities moving forward. The parties also accept that improvements to pre-planning and planning consultation processes are necessary.

NATS radar map

The National Air Traffic Service has provided BWEA with a series of maps and GIS files which can be used by wind energy developers in the pre-planning portion of wind energy developments. Click here to view and download this information.

MOD Helpline

For people planning new commercial wind farms concerned about Aviation issues, the MOD has set up a wind energy and Aviation helpline, open from 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday, and from 9am-4pm on Fridays. The number is 0121 311 3847 or if that is busy, please call 07901 751 770. Feel free to call this number regarding any wind energy and Aviation related inquiry, be it about consultation, particular cases, scoping etc.

Wind Energy and Aviation Interests - Interim Guidelines

Published by the Working Group for Wind Energy, Defence and Civil Aviation Interests

Launched by then Energy Minister Brian Wilson at BWEA24, the industry's annual conference, the Interim Guidelines pull together the current status of the wind energy and Aviation issue and explain the consultation procedures required to progress a wind energy scheme. The document is aimed not only at wind energy companies but all stakeholders in the Aviation field from the military to independent airport operators.
Download a copy of the Interim Guidelines (1.46MB)
Find out more about the Working Group for Wind Energy, Defence and Civil Aviation Interests

 

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