Airports and Wind Turbines FAQ

Q: How Far away is the Fairview Wind Project from Collingwood Airport? A: The closest turbine is 3.1 km from the closest end of the primary Collingwood Airport .

Q: How Can Airports and Tall Objects Co-exist? A: It is common for an airport to operate near tall objects such as communication towers, mountains, buildings and wind turbines. Man-made objects are lit and marked according to Transport ’s standards and are depicted on navigational charts. The Billy Bishop (Island) Airport operates commercial flights and charters safely despite being within 2 km of the Toronto downtown core. Many buildings in the downtown core are much taller than the approximate 500 ft height of the proposed wind turbines, including the 1800 ft CN Tower which is about 1.1 km away from the end of the closest runway. The wind turbine located at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) grounds operates about 1.7 km from the end of the closest runway.

Q: Who is responsible for aviation safety? A: Aviation is a federal jurisdiction and has exclusive regulatory responsibility for overseeing aviation safety. Wind developers consult with Transport Canada to determine if there is need to mark or light structures. Wind developers also consult with a number of other aviation stakeholders, including , the Department of National Defence and airport operators. NAV Canada advises developers whether their projects may have an impact on navigation systems such as air traffic control (ATC) radar systems, and on airways and flight instrument approach procedures at airports. The Department of National Defence (DND) is consulted to determine whether projects may have an impact on their infrastructure. Airport Operators such as Collingwood Airport are consulted because they are responsible for ensuring their airport operates safely and complies with government regulations, standards and guidelines.

Q: Have these organizations been contacted and what are their responses? A: Yes, Transport Canada has reviewed and approved the Project’s lighting proposal. The Aerospace and Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron (ATESS) and Frequent Spectrum Management divisions of DND have been contacted and indicated they have no objections to the Project. NAV Canada has analyzed the Project and commented that some of the flight instrument approach procedures at Collingwood Airport should be altered to accommodate the Fairview Wind Project. wpd has communicated regularly with the Collingwood Airport operator and will continue to do so going forward.

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Q: What are instrument approach procedures? A: Some airports, such as Collingwood Airport, publish instrument approach procedures. These are used by specially qualified pilots who operate aircraft with equipment and instrumentation that enable them to fly in weather that obstructs flight visibility. Those who do not have the instruments or qualifications fly only by visual flight rules. Instrument approach procedures dictate altitudes and distances from which planes may safely fly the procedures, and then land. Instrument approaches are designed to take into account all natural and man-made obstacles in the vicinity of the airport.

The same process is employed at across Canada, and around the world, and is one of the reasons that aviation enjoys such an enviable safety record.

Q: Will the turbines affect the Airport? A: With any new tall objects built near airports, instrument approach procedures are evaluated. Sometimes the procedures need to be changed. wpd has offered and is looking forward to working with Collingwood to address this issue. We have great confidence in the process that has been developed around the world to ensure that projects such as this one are not a hazard to aviation; and in the professionalism of pilots who fly the procedures that have been custom designed for each airport.

Q: Has wpd contacted Collingwood Airport? A: wpd has kept Collingwood Airport up to date on the Project’s milestones and has reached out several times to the Airport Services Board in regards to their instrument approaches. wpd will continue to communicate with Collingwood Airport as the project progresses through its milestones.

wpd Canada Corporation 2233 Argentia Road, Suite 102, Mississauga, ON L5N 2X7 (p) 905-813-8400 (f) 905-813-7487