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[textarea]Newcastle Airport uses new software to black out wind farm radar effect
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 has received over 250 consultations for on and off-shore wind farms from 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, in the past, the airport has had to object to schemes where an unacceptable impact was predicted. However, a solution has been found in the form of Radar Blanking software, which in effect places a ‘patch’ to cover the wind farm sites, preventing turbines appearing so they cannot be mistaken for moving aircraft.
Over the past two years, the airport 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.
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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 has received over 250 consultations for on and off-shore wind farms from 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, in the past, the airport has had to object to schemes where an unacceptable impact was predicted. However, a solution has been found in the form of Radar Blanking software, which in effect places a ‘patch’ to cover the wind farm sites, preventing turbines appearing so they cannot be mistaken for moving aircraft.
Over the past two years, the airport 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.
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