Clearing away radar clutter

Wind turbines are set to become a widespread feature of the landscape under efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

In the UK, for example, the government is committed to meeting 20 per cent of energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020.

A recent report from construction consultancy McBains Cooper advocated the installation of miniature wind farms at the end of runways to generate free energy.

"You need only... look at videos of how far a jet aircraft's engines will blow something as big as a van, to feel or see the potential for power to be generated by passing vehicles and the air they displace," argued Anthony Coumidis, director of environmental initiatives.

The electricity generated could meet non-operational power requirements at airports, he added.

There are potential air traffic control repercussions from siting wind turbines by or close to runways, however, since they can cause the loss or corruption of the declared aircraft's position, or create a Doppler return on a controller's radar screen that denotes a moving aircraft. In air traffic control circles this is described as a false target. These create additional work for controllers and may also result in safety issues.

Eurocontrol has developed draft guidelines to air navigation service providers (ANSPs) on the assessment and mitigation of wind farm effects on airspace surveillance systems and began a consultation period in mid-2009, which due to close on 31 January 2010.

The draft guidelines were developed in close collaboration with civil and military surveillance system providers from across Europe, as well as with input from air navigation authorities in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the US.