Ireland’s Air Traffic Management Controller and Shannon Airport have lodged objections with An Bord Pleanála over the proposed Ballycar Windfarm.
AirNav Ireland claims the proximity and scale of the South-East Clare project would reduce the level of safety at its Shannon en-route and Dublin en-route control centres.
AirNav Ireland is the semi-state commercial body with responsibility for air traffic management within the 451,000km2 airspace controlled by Ireland.
As part of Ballycar Green Energy LTD’s plans to build twelve turbines up to 158m in height in South-East Clare, Air Nav Ireland analysed the potential impact on its nearby surveillance infrastructure.
In conclusion, Air Nav Ireland found the development would degrade the performance of its radar equipment at Woodcock Hill near Meelick.
In the submission seen by Clare FM, Air Nav Ireland states that “due to the proximity and scale of the development, there are no credible or implementable mitigations that would eliminate radar beam deflections or shadowing from the turbines.”
According to the company, much of Europe’s transatlantic air traffic and much of Dublin Airport’s arrivals and departures fly through the Woodcock radar region.
As a result, AirNav Ireland claims the development would reduce the level of safety at Shannon en-route and Dublin en-route control centres.
AirNav Ireland had initially issued a letter of support for the proposal in late December but this was rescinded on February 24th.
In a separate submission by Shannon Airport Authority DAC, the company noted that an internal assessment showed the Ballycar project will have no impact around its aerodrome obstacle limitation surfaces (OLS).
But, Shannon Airport says it shares the concerns of AirNav Ireland and therefore objects to the development proceeding.
