Page 26 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2013 Online Magazine

FEATURE WINDMILLS

New Technology to Counter

Wind Farm Interference

CANSO examines trials that demonstrate early success

in mitigating interference caused by wind farm turbines

The roTaTing blades of wind Thales released first results from
turbines generate radar returns that new software introduced on its STAR
are very similar to real aircraft, creating 2000 primary radar at the Farnborough
false plots on the radar display. The plots Air Show in July 2012. A trial starting in
are caused by Doppler shifts, just like an mid-2011 at the Inverness radar site in
aircraft, which can be confused with an Scotland succeeded in removing 70 to
aircraft target. As a result, conventional 80% of false plots caused by a nearby
primary surveillance radars experience wind farm, according to the company.
clutter and noise that competes with Similar results were achieved when the
aircraft in the same airspace. As wind trial was expanded to larger wind farms.
farm projects continue to expand, there is Thales Surveillance and Airport Solutions
growing demand for a solution to mitigate Account Director John Smith explains,
the impact of these turbines. Many wind “The software looks at the frequency
farm projects have yet to receive approval and various other characteristics of a
for development because of their potential wind turbine plot. We analyse the data to
impact on ATC operations. make a decision as to whether the plot
There are various ways to counter the is associated with an aircraft or a wind
interference, ranging from adding gap- turbine. If you can get rid of sufficient
filler radar, blanking turbine returns, or false plots, so as not to cause a false track
installing new processing software at the or a true track to be deviated, then the
radar front end to identify non-aircraft controller does not see the wind turbines.”
plots. Results from several field trials Thales also tested the ability of the new
conducted over the last two years are software to generate a new aircraft track
starting to show positive results. over a wind farm. “Being able to initiate
26 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS MARCH / APRIL 2013 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM