AVIATION CONSTRAINTS STUDIES
(for wind resource areas and telecommunications markets)

This is the principal service we offer on wind energy projects. We Research the regional aeronautical environment for each project including all public-use and military airports, their visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR)approach and departure procedures, traffic patterns, VFR flyways, enroute airways, minimum vectoring altitudes (MVA), military operating areas (MOA), IFR and VFR military training routes (MTR), and the proximity of radar facilities including Airport Surveillance (ASR), Long Range (ARSR), Air Defense and Homeland security (DOD/DHS), and Weather Surveillance Radars. We then analyze the project area using criteria from Federal Aviation Regulations Part 77, Objects Affecting the Navigable Airspace; Federal Aviation Administration Order JO 7400.2G, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters; and Federal Aviation Administration Order 8360.3B, United Standard for Terminal Instrument Procedures (AKA TERPs) and prepare a report and map of our findings for each project. The GIS-based map consists of a circle or polygon enclosing the project areas divided into sectors showing the maximum allowable heights for turbines or communication towers in those sectors. If requested by the client, both a hard copy and GIS shapefiles can be provided along with the written report to aid in turbine siting and project development. The cost or these studies is a function of the size of the area and the aeronautical complexity.

SITE SPECIFIC STUDIES

This service is similar to the Area Studies above with regard to the scope of the research except our analysis and conclusions apply to a specific structure site. The work product is a written report identifying whether notice to the FAA under FAR Part 77 is required, whether any Obstruction Standars set forth in the regulation are exceeded triggering an extended study by the FAA and whether the subject structure may actually be considered to have an adverse airspace effect and be classified as a Hazard.

VIABILITY STUDIES (FORMERLY FEASIBILITY STUDIES) AND/OR CONSULTATION/NEGOTIATION

Although our Aviation Constraints studies provide comprehensive information on siting issues pertaining to Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) there sometimes is lingering doubt on the part of project proponents about how the military may react to structure, especially wind turbines within MOAs and MTRs as well as when they are within areas that are suspect for long-range DOD/DHS radar impact on military mission sustainability. Also, that doubt is raised when prospective sites are within areas used by the FAA for radar vectoring aircraft called Minimum Vectoring Areas (MVA) because the agency's record of treating turbines within these areas in not consistent. While the FAA will no longer process "Feasibility Studies," the lingering concerns may be alleviated by filing of "selected sites" within the military areas or MVAs identifies in our Constraints Studies. These filings are made to the FAA in a manner similar to regular filings under the Federal Aviation Regulations and, in fact, they are regular filings as far as the FAA is concerned. As a matter of procedure, the FAA is required to provide any filings under FAR process to the military representative in the FAA Region and that representative in collaboration with the local military command will review the issues of concern. If, as a result, the FAA issues a Determination of No Hazard indicating clearance on all pertinent issues for the selected sites (military and MVA) then the project developer can proceed in confidence to plan the entire project. If, on the other hand, the FAA issues a Notice of Presumed Hazard (NPH) negative on any MOA, MTR, MTA or long-range radar we can negotiate appropriate mitigation with the FAA or affected military user command either directly or through the FAA. Alternatively, we can directly consult with the affected military user commands and attempt to negotiate a mutually beneficial resolution prior to any type of FAA filings. In either case, unless the negotiation process evolves into lengthy discussions our costs for the Viability Study filings, follow-up with the FAA and the negotiations with the FAA/DOD are nominal.

LIGHTING PLANS AND FILING (WIND TURBINE PROJECTS)

When all issues are resolved, the entire array of turbines has been sited, and it is time to file the entire wind farm with the FAA, an extremely important service we offer is to devise a cost-effective lighting plan for the farm to submit to the FAA along with filings. In the absence of a lighting plan accompanying the filings, the FAA will assign lighting and, in our experience, without regard to economics. We believe we can provide a significant economic benefit here by devising an optimal lighting plan that meet the requirements of FAA Advisory Circulars but if we can save you only one light it will pay for the cost of our service. By the way, the FAA wind energy coordinator has told us that he prefers that proponents submit their own lighting plans.

TALL STRUCTURE AIRSPACE OBSTRUCTION EVALUATIONS:

Evaluations of any structure greater than 200 feet above ground level (AGL) is based upon ASI in-house analyses of a proposed tall structure's compliance with FAR Part 77, TERPS and all relevant airspace criteria. Evaluation reports include FAA filing requirements; a determination of Part 77 obstruction standard impacts; a preliminary analysis of any aviation operational procedures that would be impacted; a preliminary evaluation of any potential EMI effects, on FAA or military radar, communication, or navigational facilities; proximity of AM radio sites; comments regarding probable FAA conditions of marking and lighting, and FAA requirements for certified accuracy surveys. Typically, the evaluation report will be furnished in 3 to 5 business days from receipt of the request.

Where the evaluation indicates an effect upon operational procedures that could result in a FAA Determination of Hazard, ASI will, at the client's option, research feasible alternatives and/or develop suggestions to FAA for changes to the impacted procedures that would accommodate the proposed structure.

SEARCH RING STUDIES:

ASI will analyze a specified radial area (normally one mile) around a specified latitude and longitude and indicate maximum allowable heights in various sectors of the resulting search ring in a manner similar to Aviation Constraints Studies but on a smaller scale. This is a planning tool to identify suitable site options within the search ring.