26 January 2011
The operator of Newcastle Airport has launched a unique radar blanking strategy that will allow for a number of potential wind farm schemes in the North East to go ahead without disrupting air traffic control. Since 2005, the airport operator has received over 250 consultations for on- and off-shore wind farms across the region. Many have the potential to affect the daily operations of its air traffic control as wind turbines can appear on the airport radar with similar markings to a moving aircraft.
In the absence of a solution to this problem, the operator has in the past had to object to schemes where an unacceptable impact was predicted. However, the radar blanking software provides a solution to this, by in effect placing a patch to cover the wind farm sites preventing turbines appearing so that they cannot be mistaken for moving aircraft.
Over the past two years, the airport operator has worked closely with the aviation industry, the renewables sector and regional partners to develop this solution. However, it is expected that there will be a limit to the number of radar blanking areas that are possible.
http://www.uk-airport-news.info/newcastle-airport-news-260111.html#