On Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 4:44:10 PM UTC-6, OHM Ω
http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
My club just got word that a solar farm is being proposed to be built about 1 mile directly off the west end of our runway 9-27. The zoning board meeting is tomorrow which I plan on attending.
Aside from this re-use of good farm land (and a close land out spot) is there a downside to having a solar farm directly along our takeoff and landing path? I see mention of glare from the solar panels in an FAA report (see abstract below) which points to moderate "impairment of flying ability".
Has anyone had any experience with this issue?
Thanks, John OHM Ω
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Evaluation of Glare as a Hazard for General Aviation Pilots on Final Approach
DOT/FAA/AM-15/12
Abstract - Solar power is a growing source of energy for airports and for their communities. While solar power panels provide a useful means to generate revenue and to provide energy locally, it does pose a potential hazard in the form of glare. In the current study, pilots were exposed to glare during a series of flights in a flight simulator, and their perceived impairment was recorded.
During the approach phase of each flight, we simulated glare from one of four possible angles (0, 25, 50, and 90 deg left of straight ahead) and for glare durations of either 0 (no glare control), 1, and 5 s. The glare was simulated using halogen lamps that, under the lighting conditions of our lab, approximated the visual effect of solar glare. Subjective measures of impairment were recorded for each condition. There was a significant main effect of glare duration and a significant main effect of glare angle.
Impairment was perceived as being worse for glare sources that are straight ahead of the pilot and of longer duration, with a gradual decline in impairment as the glare source moves toward the
John, one of the few good things about living in N. Illinois is the abundance of landable fields at pretty much any time of year. You just keep flying your heading until the wheel turns (don't forget to lower it). There, you landed. Solar fields are more agreeable to soaring than the alternative 500' wind turbines.