April 5, 2014
England

Parachutists worried about huge wind turbine near drop zone

By Scunthorpe Telegraph | Posted: April 05, 2014 | www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk

A skydiving club at Hibaldstow has expressed concerns about plans to build a wind turbine near to where parachutists land.

Planning permission is being sought for a single wind turbine generator with a maximum height to blade tip of 78m.

The site earmarked is near the River Ancholme, on Bridge Lane, Cadney.

An official of Target Skyports (Skydive Hibaldstow) has told North Lincolnshire Council planners that the proposed development is just inside its “dropping radius” measured from the centre of the landing area used at Hibaldstow airfield for more than 20 years.

He says: “Although at this distance the turbine itself should not present an issue to our parachutists as a physical obstacle, it can by its very presence cause parachutists stress when under canopy, which could lead to them making a poor judgement and increase the risk of injury to them.”

However, he says their “primary concern” is something called wake turbulence, generated by turbines.

When a northerly easterly wind is blowing, this will be directly into the dropping zone, the club suggests.

The official adds: “Although we do not intentionally land in the proximity of that area, off landings can occur, and the affect of turbulence on a canopy

cannot be predicted.

“Turbulence can cause catastrophic effects on a canopy in flight. At that height a canopy would be unlikely to recover sufficient flight characteristics to provide a safe landing for the parachutist, which could result in injury, or worse.

“We will not know its full impact unfortunately until the turbine has become operational.

“The affect of wake turbulence is increased if multiple turbines are built, so in this case of a single turbine we do not object but would be very opposed to an increase in size of turbine or the number of turbines.”

The applicant, EDP, says small scale renewable energy projects are recognised as making a valuable contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and to meeting the UK’s binding obligation to securing at least 15 per cent of the UK’s energy from renewable sources by 2020.

The proposed development will generate up to 800kw of clean, renewable energy, “clearly contributing to these strategic and legally binding objectives.”

North Lincolnshire Council now has the application under consideration.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/04/05/parachutists-worried-about-huge-wind-turbine-near-drop-zone/