Caernarfon to be a windfarm?
 

With nothing happening at Llanbedr and Caernarfon Airport being converted into a windfarm it seems all GA in N Wales will have to be at Mona in Anglesey.

Caernarfon to be a windfarm? Do tell!

Llanbedr / Caernarfon
 

It Appears that the operator of Caernarfon has applied for wind turbines that may well restrict what runways are available to use in the future.The local pilots are trying to resolve the situation but they say on many days the airfield would be unusable due to wind strength / direction and that the loss of use of a runway will have severe restictions on operations !!!

Thanks for that Pobjoy. Like many people based at Liverpool, Caernarfon is an ideal destination any time of the year. It figures that, having eventually got new accommodation, (no doubt with the aid of a grant) steps would be taken to annul it's use. Hopefully the Welsh treehuggers will endeavour to block any proposal and, for once, act for the good of aviation.

The planning application can be viewed here:

Application Details | Track & Trace Planning Applications | Gwynedd Council

It will effectively close 02/20 and I don't fancy landing on 26 with a crosswind from the north as the swirling wind from these turbines will make the roundout very sporty.

I'm sure there will be plenty of objections from the local pilots, there certainly will be from me, once I've fully read the application and composed a suitable response.

The CAA are not going to comment until the application is processed.

We shall see......

Don't forget anyone can object. So if you feel you will be disadvantaged by this proposal you can comment on the proposal online from the above link.

An intial reading of this is weird. they propose that the turbines will result in 02/20 becoming unlicensed and that will reduce traffic, which they appear to think is a good thing!

Of course almost none of the arrivals and departures at Caernarfon NEED a licensed runway so their motivation is a bit of a mystery.

Two tiddly little wind mills aren't goingto save us from Global warming either.

The whole thing seems bizarre to me.

Perhaps they are to power the cafe? What flipping other use would 2 have!!!

I for one use Caernarfon quiet a lot and the loss of 02\20 will limit my number of visits - I have the feeling that 2 windmills could just be the start however "someone" may ask why so much money was given to them to put up hangers and offices to "Develop" the airport when they are now potentially taking out the longest runway and with the usual brisk N and NW winds limiting the number of visiting aircraft

I have a feeling that this will be a sign of the new times we will be living in

Caernarfon operated for many years with only 08/26 which meant that it was not always possible to fly in due to cross winds. The taking into use of 02/20 meant that cross winds ceased to be much of a problem and I am sure that usage of the airfield increased. It is a very popular airfield not only with locals but also throughout the North West of England because it a relatively short but very picturesque flight from Liverpool, Blackpool, Woodvale and Barton. It would be a great shame to see all this go down the drain.

Caernarfon is a very nice place to fly to. It would be a shame to lose it. But I would be suprised if the operator was really going to screw up the economics, having spent all that money on fancy buildings (or were they bought with a grant?).

Yes grant money was used on the new buildings, although in what proportion I don't know.

It must be on public record somewhere if someone knows how to find it.

I can't believe the grant issuers will be very happy to see their money squandered.

I wouldn't:*

R-D, do you know if the area bounded in yellow on the area map is the limit of the `landowner` or not ?
Personally ,I would have one turbine on the old dispersal about 350 yds ENE,and another behind the fuel farm area,as that leaves one runway into prevailing winds in most conditions,unless one is into sporty approaches.

As I understand it, the area bounded in yellow is what is leased by the airport operator from the landowner. The part between the runways is leased to a farmer for crops and the rest I don't know.

The old dispersal is possible but would need the permission of the leaseholder of that area and I guess the landowner, but the one near the fuel bay is out as it would be too close to helimeds pan and be a significant problem for rotary approaches to the refuel bay.

Although I wasn't at the meeting with the planning committee in Pwllheli on the 28/2/2011 (so I can't confirm it 100%, and the planning website hasn't been updated yet by the looks of things) I've heard that the application has been approved and permission to construct the two wind turbines on the airfield has been granted by the Gwynedd county council.
:(

As you approach the airfield by road there are now signs directing 'windfarm construction traffic' ... so it would appear the plan was approved and construction has started :mad:

I understand that the Wind Turbine investors/developers have deep pockets; they're in for the long term.

Securing a site which offers a good source of wind without too much NIMBYism must feel like striking gold.

I've absolutely no connection to Roy but I guess the cost benefit analysis didn't take long.

Restricted as ops might be, it's still a reasonable outcome imnsho.

SGC

Wind Farm Output
 

This site is worth a look at detailing percentage the daily Mwh supplied by wind farms in the uk.
n e t a - Electricity Data Summary

02/20 was notam'd closed for a week earlier this month, for wind farm work according to the tower.