yr right - You're talking about the U.S. - where stubbing your toe on the step of a shop because you didn't lift your feet, entitles you to launch a mega-million dollar lawsuit.
Where you can launch a mega-million dollar lawsuit for shock and trauma because the aircraft made a loud funny noise right after lift-off, and you thought you were going to die.
Where you can sue someone for putting a mountain in the way of where you wanted to fly, and you ran into it. Gimme a break.
What airfields in Australia, and how "near" are they?
I'll use one of the the newest and biggest windfarms as an example - Collgar, located approximately 15km SE of Merredin, W.A.
Merredin Aerodrome is located 10km W of the windfarm, and two private operators have airstrips located 7.5km and 3.6km respectively from the windfarm.
The Environmental Assessment involved an airspace study carried out by Airport Assist P/L.
The study concluded the windfarm (consisting of 127 horizontal-axis turbine generators spread over 126 sq km, with the towers being 80M high and the blades approximately 45M in diameter) will have negligible effect on aviation.
Consultation was carried out with all relevant aviation interests and authorities - CASA, Airservices Australia, the RFDS, the CSWAFC, officers of the Shire of Merredin and neighbouring shires, local aircraft operators, the aviation policy branch of the Department of Planning & Infrastructure, and the RAAF.
Initial plans proposed 165M high wind turbines, the final design came in at 125M high. This windfarm has been in operation for nearly 2 years, and
AFAIK, there have been no aviation incidents involving this windfarm.
http://www.collgarwindfarm.com.au/pd...-Main-Text.pdf
http://www.collgarwindfarm.com.au/pd...pace-Study.pdf
http://www.collgarwindfarm.com.au/li...rial-view-2012
http://mervfrench.files.wordpress.co..._2425-copy.jpg
Re the comment about wind turbines being placed on ridges in hilly or mountainous country - the Collgar Windfarm is positioned on slightly undulating, but virtually flat terrain, and would potentially provide a greater threat to aviation, due to pilots possibly being more alert to projections in hilly or mountainous country - whereas in relatively flat, somewhat featureless terrain, some pilots would tend to fall into a belief that "there's nothing to hit out here".
Regardless, nothing beats studying up on your NOTAMS and being aware of the possible hazards of the area you are flying into or over. There's no difference between a large HT power pylon or a wind turbine, if you don't know it's there, and fly into it.
A turbulence effect 10kms downstream of a wind turbine sounds like tinfoil hat stuff. What's the wake turbulence clearance for a heavy? - that would generate substantially more turbulence than a wind turbine? It's not 10kms, that's for sure.