LIGHT aircraft pilots have warned it is “just a matter of time” before wind
farms cause a “disastrous” accident in Scotland.
By Paula Murray, EXCLUSIVE
Small planes along with helicopters, gliders, microlights and other
hobbyists make up the biggest user group of the UK airspace in terms of low
level flying and contribute some £3billion to the economy supporting close
to 40,000 jobs.
Member organisations admit the fast-growing renewables sector has created
some “fairly significant” issues which they have fought hard to resolve.
Their main concerns relate to downwind turbulence from the turbine blades
plus problems with visibility especially in poor conditions.
The fast pace of development mean maps and charts are often well behind of
the size of existing farms and new developments with anenometer masts
springing up to scout potential development sites.
Last month this newspaper revealed RAF pilots had reported a catalogue of
near misses with wind farms and are making over 1,000 manual corrections to
their charts every month to try and keep up with the changes.
However, general aviation industry is also struggling with the pace of
development.
Last night the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) warned there was potential
for a mid-air disaster.
LAA inspector Neil Geddes, of Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, said:
“Certainly there is a risk.
“You only really understand how cluttered parts of Scotland are with wind
turbines when you are flying a light aircraft – you won’t really get the
picture tens of thousands of feet high on board a passenger plane.
“They cause downwind turbulence which can be an issue but at least we can
spot them and take evasive action.
“It is the anenometer masts put up to measure wind speed and such like that
are the real problem. They are practically impossible to see because they
are so tall and slim. If you don’t know there is one on your flight path –
and lets face it, it takes maps a year to catch up and by then there will
be more of them – there is little you can do.
“In certain weather and light conditions they will be impossible to detect.
It’s only a matter of time before we have a disastrous accident in our hands.”
Microlight aircraft instructor Colin MacKinnon, who operates Scotland’s
oldest airfield in Strathaven, Lanarkshire, near to Whitelee wind farm
which is among the largest in Europe, said new developments had the
potential to put people out of business unless they were willing to put up
a fight.
He added: “For about four years, I spent at least one day a week to respond
to wind development planning applications and despite promises of community
benefits we never received a penny of any funds, which is a bit frustrating.
“If Whitelee decided to expand eastward and was given the planning
permission to do so we’d be out of business.
“While millions of pounds have been spent to investigate the impact and
guarantee the safety of commercial aviation such as relocating radars to
avoid problems with readings, very little has been done for the general
aviation sector which is us.
“One of the issues is turbulence. There is no research done as to how close
to a turbine it will be safe to fly. We do not have the resource to fund
such studies unlike the wind industry which has millions.
“So we err in the side of caution. None of us is brave or stupid enough to
be a test pilot to see how close to a turbine you can fly before your plane
is ripped to shreds.
“I think we are among the most experienced in the world when it comes to
flying safely in the vicinity of turbines with Whitelee so near to us.”
Over the past five years there have been around 10,000 applications to
construct approximately 24,000 turbines across the UK.
With prime locations already in use developers are looking at alternative
sites, many of which are closer to population and activity centres.
A UK Government report to general aviation from earlier this year admitted
some airfields had their operations threatened by wind turbine developments.
The LAA also admitted some energy companies were eyeing “inappropriate”
spots for their structures.
CEO Stephen Slater said: “I would say that more than 90 per cent of the
turbines run no aviation issues.
“The general aviation sector is the main user of low level air space. It’s
not just light aircrafts we are talking about but also helicopters,
gliders, microlights, parachuters and so on.
“But we do have certain factors that have to be considered. There is the
risk of potential collision especially in poor, deteriorating conditions
when turbines or masts near an airfield may limit the pilot’s options of
approach and we know of the radar issues with turbines interfering with
readings.
“We are also aware of the concerns over turbulence with anecdotal evidence
from pilots
“But I would say that over the years we have developed a good working
relationship with the wind energy industry to mitigate any problems that
may occur.”
Meanwhile campaigners opposing wind farms have drawn information from
abroad to highlight issues to aviation.
Christine Metcalfe, of Loch Avich, Argyll, has requested confirmation under
Freedom of Information legislation from Civil Aviation Authority that
turbines and turbulence from them do not impact emergency landings at
airports such as Prestwick in Ayrshire and Glasgow after receiving evidence
from Australia, USA and Europe on safety issues.
She raised concerns Whitelee was constructed without appropriate safeguards
in place and now wants to know what sort of radar and safety impact studies
were carried out prior the vast development went up.
Ms Metcalfe also wants to know why there has been no studies into the
effect turbulence from wind farms has on planes when the organisation
itself said in 2012 there was an “urgent need” for an assessment.
CAA has issued guidance to aerodrome operators saying a “large number of
turbines in an area” will have a cumulative effect that is “of far more
significant concerns” but it is yet to respond to the FoI request in more
detail.
The anti-wind farm campaigner said: “I have learned that during the early
90s the management of the CAA were very supportive of the campaign
involving resistance wind turbines as they had real and valid concerns even
then. It is a great pity that times appear to have changed somewhat –
almost certainly due to governmental pressures.
“Without the overall checks and balances in place for this technology, if
such pressures were applied they are being proven to be misguided at best
and at worst contributing to dangerous decisions being made.”
The renewables sector does recommend that aviation stakeholders are always
consulted early in the wind farm planning application process and
collaborates with aviation authorities and government to find solutions to
radar interference or flight obstruction caused by wind energy developments.
They also organise regular workshops and surgeries to bring both sides
together to work on any issues that arise.
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