Assessment of Wind Turbines

Wind turbines, with total heights of up to 250m and more, represent aviation obstacles. Furthermore, such turbines are increasingly planned in the vicinity of aerodromes and flight procedures. 

airsight offers project developers the necessary expertise and support to consider all aviation aspects.

For the wind farm Schnürbuck in Germany, airsight was commissioned to investigate the impact of the planned wind turbines on the safety and regularity of aircraft operations at Lahr Airport.

It was found that the wind turbines have an impact on some instrument departure procedures (SIDs) due to their height and location in mountainous areas. An increase in minimum climb gradients (PDG) was required to enable the wind turbines.

In order to evaluate the extent to which an increased minimum climb gradient is acceptable, records of several thousand flight tracks from the German air traffic service provider (DFS) were analyzed and evaluated. In addition, alternative flight procedures were evaluated and potential take-offs with one engine inoperative were also considered.

It was thus possible to determine that the proposed and necessary increase of the minimum climb gradient (PDG) of some instrument departure procedures (SIDs) would have no effect on regularity of aircraft operations.

The study conducted by airsight was able to show that an adaption of individual flight procedures at the special airport Lahr is acceptable. This finally enabled the approval of the wind farm Schnürbuck.

airsight has assisted numerous project developers in managing proposed developments such as wind farms while ensuring aviation safety. Our objective and added value is to find operational or technical solutions meeting the client’s needs. If you have a related project that you would like to discuss with us, feel free to contact us via e-mail or visit our wind farms page.