Anyone who has so much as glanced at the aviation trade press in recent years will be well aware of the need to protect air traffic control radars and navigation systems from the impact of large wind-turbines. What people are less aware of is the challenge that offshore wind-farms present to existing helicopter operations to offshore oil and gas platforms. Some of the current generation of turbines are approaching 200 metres in height. Helicopters therefore have to give them a wide berth!

The problem is with the scale of planned developments, turbines and offshore helidecks are expected to get even closer together. If this occurs one of two things will happen. Either helicopter operations become restricted to good weather conditions or else the turbines are prevented from being constructed. Neither is a desirable outcome.

The good news is that there is some middle ground to be found between the interests of both the renewables and the oil & gas sectors. The answer lies in the application of new technologies in the longer term. However, a blend of amended operations, safety assessments and economic trade-offs can also work in the near term. There is much work still to be done to resolve the issues - but we believe a viable solution exists.

Contact the author

Steve Leighton
Principal
Tel: +44 1252 451 670
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