Anemometer masts ...
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Anemometer masts ...
Just wondering if the mil system marks up where windfarm anemometer masts are located on your low-flying charts or notam boards.
I increasingly see these very difficult to see skinny grey 299ft high masts (with guy wires) up and down the west coast of Scotland. Not on notams, not on charts and not lit.
Whenever I see one I pop it into the GPS, but they can disappear as quickly as they appear ... which focuses the mind the next time you fly over ... and can't see it.
They tend to be on ridge sites that are being investigated as future windfarm sites (although once the windfarm is up, they do tend to stay - probably to measure actual winds).
So, do you get notice of them or just keep an even warier lookout ?
I increasingly see these very difficult to see skinny grey 299ft high masts (with guy wires) up and down the west coast of Scotland. Not on notams, not on charts and not lit.
Whenever I see one I pop it into the GPS, but they can disappear as quickly as they appear ... which focuses the mind the next time you fly over ... and can't see it.
They tend to be on ridge sites that are being investigated as future windfarm sites (although once the windfarm is up, they do tend to stay - probably to measure actual winds).
So, do you get notice of them or just keep an even warier lookout ?
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Whoops! Not a good idea.
Suggest you do a websearch. Look at Whitelea for instance. Having said that web shows it being near Edinboro!!!
Hate to say this. phase two was built and phase three and four are probably going to be built.
Oh yes, A wind farm just across the road on glenouther moor will probably get built as well. Different company, but no windvane. They still have a forest to remove.
Do not look our for the masts alone.
Hval
Suggest you do a websearch. Look at Whitelea for instance. Having said that web shows it being near Edinboro!!!
Hate to say this. phase two was built and phase three and four are probably going to be built.
Oh yes, A wind farm just across the road on glenouther moor will probably get built as well. Different company, but no windvane. They still have a forest to remove.
Do not look our for the masts alone.
Hval
Yes, we do spot a lot of the dratted things. Usually just in time for a sharp jink to the side, or if really late, a pull up! Crews refer to them as "whip aerials" because the average tall, thin uncharted obstacle in days gone by was something erected by the local CB nutter; the term has stuck now that masts are going up all over the place.
If crews have the presence of mind they can store the coordinates of the "surprise" mast in the aircraft nav kit with a simple button press, and pass those coordinates onto 1 AIDU to prod them to update the obstruction data. Aircraft DVOF data (like GPWS but for obstructions) gets updated with the positions, but there is often a couple of months delay between a mast's construction and its appearance in the DVOF. Similar for the maps.
At various times I have seen flying units run a system of "local warnings", which effectively generates NOTAMs for distribution on-base only. This might cover local bird roosting sites, but also used to include new obstructions out-and-about in the low flying areas. Not sure if any units still do this.
An anemometer mast erected to survey wind at a potential wind-farm site near Marham led to the farmer whose land it stood on getting ostracised from his local community, and eventually comitting suicide (although there was a lot of speculation about foul play) so these things are obviously emotive!
If crews have the presence of mind they can store the coordinates of the "surprise" mast in the aircraft nav kit with a simple button press, and pass those coordinates onto 1 AIDU to prod them to update the obstruction data. Aircraft DVOF data (like GPWS but for obstructions) gets updated with the positions, but there is often a couple of months delay between a mast's construction and its appearance in the DVOF. Similar for the maps.
At various times I have seen flying units run a system of "local warnings", which effectively generates NOTAMs for distribution on-base only. This might cover local bird roosting sites, but also used to include new obstructions out-and-about in the low flying areas. Not sure if any units still do this.
An anemometer mast erected to survey wind at a potential wind-farm site near Marham led to the farmer whose land it stood on getting ostracised from his local community, and eventually comitting suicide (although there was a lot of speculation about foul play) so these things are obviously emotive!
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How high are these masts?
We don't have any Buccaneers any more (35ft agl) nor do we have Vulcans (80ft agl) (well, let's forget about the 'rules' and be pragmatic)
So who is flying low-level, at what height and how high are the anemometer masts?
We don't have any Buccaneers any more (35ft agl) nor do we have Vulcans (80ft agl) (well, let's forget about the 'rules' and be pragmatic)
So who is flying low-level, at what height and how high are the anemometer masts?
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The standard wind farm met mast is 70m (229 feet high). Before a developer can apply for a wind farm it is required that he sites a met mast for up to 6 months to prove the wind speeds are sufficient to justify it. Installation is approved through the planning process and MOD are consulted (depsite not being a statutory consultee). Coords are passed to AIDU and they are marked.
More and more of these chopper stoppers are appearing all over the UK - and not necessarily where you might expect, ie on hill tops/high ground. There is even one on low ground on the outskirts of Telford! Within LFA 9 and its immediate area we have local warnings, but further afield the AIDU warnings tend to be almost after the event. It would help if these masts could have some form of visual marker, but lighting is probably out of the question and anything else, such as a streamer, would probably affect the very purpose they are there for. Even different colouring is unlikely to help as they are so thin.
One day soon someone, most probably rotary at 100ft, is going to hit one; I just hope it's not me, although I've already had a couple of close calls.
One day soon someone, most probably rotary at 100ft, is going to hit one; I just hope it's not me, although I've already had a couple of close calls.
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I would guess this is extremely significant for the offshore mil & SAR rotary guys too. ISTR they stooge around IMC at 200' and unless these masts have radar reflectors they could seriously spoil your day?
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Nice to see some positive comment's . I put an earlier post on here about the proposed wind farm near Olney and just got slagged off . So much for reporting flight safety issues to aviators. 
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Wind Turbine Heights
Often the turbines are built on peat, This requires a concrete base to be built that normally is above ground level. The turbines may 110M high - but that doesn't necessarily take into account blade sweep height. You need to allow maybe 150 to 180M agl.
Of course, turbines can be many heights. Currently heights do seem to be in the 80M to 110M heights (excepting blade sweep).
One thing that can be noticed with windfarms is the decimation in raptors (birds of pray) in areas a number of kilometres away. Decimation is not too strong a word either.
Of course, turbines can be many heights. Currently heights do seem to be in the 80M to 110M heights (excepting blade sweep).
One thing that can be noticed with windfarms is the decimation in raptors (birds of pray) in areas a number of kilometres away. Decimation is not too strong a word either.
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"Even something as simple as dayglo marker balls all the way up them"
I doubt the developers want to draw attention to their plans too soon.
A very emotive issue and for most punters they'd never notice an anemometer (or realise what it is) nor any planning request for it. But, put bells and lights on it and they pretty quickly gives the objectors a heads up.
I doubt the developers want to draw attention to their plans too soon.
A very emotive issue and for most punters they'd never notice an anemometer (or realise what it is) nor any planning request for it. But, put bells and lights on it and they pretty quickly gives the objectors a heads up.
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This sounds horrifying !
Even large yachts ( I'm thinking of 160' masts & a bit less) have a flashing red light on top - even if regulations don't force one to, anyone with a brain or conscience would make it bloody obvious, day or night, and ensure that such things are known to NOTAMS or similar as they plan it.
The point about telephone masts trying to be clandestine is a good one - recently in Horsham West Sussex ( not a low flying area except for the odd police helo ) a lot of people wondered why their car immobilisers wouldn't let them get going; turns out a 'phone mast had been secretly erected nearby, obviously trying to avoid protestors - it's well camouflaged for a change, but obviously a problem from various viewponts.
Are these bastards allowed to just chuck up these things without notifying aircraft / planning permission ?!
Even large yachts ( I'm thinking of 160' masts & a bit less) have a flashing red light on top - even if regulations don't force one to, anyone with a brain or conscience would make it bloody obvious, day or night, and ensure that such things are known to NOTAMS or similar as they plan it.
The point about telephone masts trying to be clandestine is a good one - recently in Horsham West Sussex ( not a low flying area except for the odd police helo ) a lot of people wondered why their car immobilisers wouldn't let them get going; turns out a 'phone mast had been secretly erected nearby, obviously trying to avoid protestors - it's well camouflaged for a change, but obviously a problem from various viewponts.
Are these bastards allowed to just chuck up these things without notifying aircraft / planning permission ?!
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Planning applications are made, as are environmental impact assessments. Any objections generally get overturned by the government.
Did you know that the only reasons wind farms pay for themselves is through tax benefits? They are highly non cost effective in real monetary and polluting terms. Not a single wind farm has ever made a profit (once you remove tax benefits). They are short life spanned; maintenance costs are horrendous, removal costs at their end of life are dreadful, and the destruction of carbon sequestration deposits cancels out any benefits what so ever.
Hval.
Did you know that the only reasons wind farms pay for themselves is through tax benefits? They are highly non cost effective in real monetary and polluting terms. Not a single wind farm has ever made a profit (once you remove tax benefits). They are short life spanned; maintenance costs are horrendous, removal costs at their end of life are dreadful, and the destruction of carbon sequestration deposits cancels out any benefits what so ever.
Hval.
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At least you know where the masts are......
If you are ever tasked to investigate a surface contact at night then keep a good lookout for these bad boys..... No lights...No Transponders and they don't show up on Goggles until you get to the "What the £cuk is that ?" stage.
SkySails-Home en
If you are ever tasked to investigate a surface contact at night then keep a good lookout for these bad boys..... No lights...No Transponders and they don't show up on Goggles until you get to the "What the £cuk is that ?" stage.
SkySails-Home en
Did you know that the only reasons wind farms pay for themselves is through tax benefits? They are highly non cost effective in real monetary and polluting terms. Not a single wind farm has ever made a profit (once you remove tax benefits).
Unless you are altruistic, or can be assured of grants (much reduced now from when they first started) these things make no sense, and I am quite sure the same applies to larger wind farms.
Now if someone wants to build a small nuclear power station on my land I'd be quite happy to accommodate them. With the levels of radon round here I'd never notice the difference!
Last edited by Tankertrashnav; 26th Oct 2009 at 12:50.
Even large yachts ( I'm thinking of 160' masts & a bit less) have a flashing red light on top -
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Surely the ANO 2005, Part 13, Articles 133 (Lighting of en-route obstacles) and134 (Lighting of wind turbine generators in United Kingdom territorial waters) apply?
The Air Navigation Order 2005
The Air Navigation Order 2005