Laufer Wind has reported the first FAA-approved commercial operation of an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) on a US wind farm,.
The radar-activated lighting technology was installed on a recently constructed and commissioned 80MW wind farm in Wyoming. Flight tests were successfully conducted and the system went operational in November of 2016.
Tall structures are required to be lit by the FAA as a safety precaution for pilots. Wind farm developers and owners face a unique challenge in addressing local communities´ concerns about the potential for blinking lights at night. The ADLS is designed to mitigate the impact of nightime lights by deploying a radar-based system around a farm, turning lights on only when low-flying aircraft are detected nearby. Standards for ADLS technology were introduced by the FAA in December 2015.
Laufer Wind´s Aircraft Detection System (ADS) is a radar-based obstruction lighting technology designed to minimize the impact of wind farms´ flashing lights on surrounding communities and wildlife. The ADS satisfies civil aviation lighting standards for aircraft safety while addressing nuisance light concerns of local neighbors.
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