WFC News & Events

The Sodus School District has received NY State approval for a grant to fund the construction of a 900 Kilowatt Wind Turbine on the school property.  The location is 2.6 miles from the departure end of Runway 10, and 3500 feet south of runway 10’s departure centerline/runway 28’s approach centerline.   The school district has also received voter approval for the construction.

The project has already been deemed a “Presumed Hazard” twice by the FAA, who noted that the structure  exceeds obstruction standards and/or would have an adverse physical or electromagnetic interference effect upon navigable airspace or air navigation facilities.”

The Sodus School District has asked for a  a public comment period, which closed on September 4th.

Here is the FAA’s Notice of Presumed Hazard.  A description is also below.  If there are any discrepancies between the .pdf Notice of Presumed Hazard and the information below, the information below is the latest available.

Please be patient…the .pdf files are rather large and may take a few minutes to download.

If the wind turbine were built as proposed, it would increase approach minima to Runway 28 by increasing the Decision Altitude from 980′ MSL to 1180′ MSL, which is 80′ above our traffic pattern altitude.   It would also have an effect on departure climb rates, which some aircraft may not be able to meet.

Finally, the greater issue of safety is one that must be considered.   The danger of having a structure extending into the airspace is a major concern to pilots and the FAA alike.

While the comment period is closed, you can still view the project online.  Go to www.oeaaa.faa.gov, select “View Circularized Cases”, then search by state and Aeronautical Study Number (2009-WTE-4528-OE).

Aeronautical Study No.
2009-WTE-4528-OE
Prior Study No.
2008-WTE-4993-OE
Issued Date: 07/28/2009
Steven Moore
Sodus Central School District
PO Box 220
Sodus, NY 14551
** NOTICE OF PRESUMED HAZARD **
The Federal Aviation Administration has conducted an aeronautical study under the provisions of 49 U.S.C.,
Section 44718 and if applicable Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 77, concerning:
Structure: Wind Turbine Sodus Central School District Wind Turbine
Location: Sodus, NY
Latitude: 43-13-38.25N NAD 83
Longitude: 77-03-37.80W
Heights: 335 feet above ground level (AGL)
871 feet above mean sea level (AMSL)
Initial findings of this study indicate that the structure as described exceeds obstruction standards and/or would have an adverse physical or electromagnetic interference effect upon navigable airspace or air navigation facilities. Pending resolution of the issues described below, the structure is presumed to be a hazard to air navigation.
If the structure were reduced in height so as not to exceed 178 feet above ground level (714 feet above mean sea level), it would not exceed obstruction standards and a favorable determination could subsequently be issued.
See Attachment for Additional information.
NOTE: PENDING RESOLUTION OF THE ISSUE(S) DESCRIBED ABOVE, THE STRUCTURE IS PRESUMED TO BE A HAZARD TO AIR NAVIGATION. THIS LETTER DOES NOT AUTHORIZE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STRUCTURE EVEN AT A REDUCED HEIGHT. ANY RESOLUTION OF THE ISSUE(S) DESCRIBED ABOVE MUST BE COMMUNICATED TO THE FAA SO THAT A FAVORABLE DETERMINATION CAN SUBSEQUENTLY BE ISSUED.
IF MORE THAN 60 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS LETTER HAS ELAPSED WITHOUT ATTEMPTED RESOLUTION, IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR YOU TO REACTIVATE THE STUDY BY FILING A NEW FAA FORM 7460-1, NOTICE OF PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OR ALTERATION.

If we can be of further assistance, please contact our office at (404) 305-7081. On any future correspondence concerning this matter, please refer to Aeronautical Study Number 2009-WTE-4528-OE.

Signature Control No: 631507-117157999 ( NPH -WT )
Michael Blaich
Specialist
Attachment(s)
Additional Information

Additional information for ASN 2009-WTE-4528-OE

Proposal: To construct a Wind Turbine to a height of 335 feet above ground level (AGL), 871 feet above mean
sea level (AMSL).

Location: The structure will be located approximately 2.62 nautical miles (NM) east of the Williamson-Sodus
Airport (SDC) reference point.

Federal Aviation Regulations, FAR Part 77 Obstruction Standard(s) Exceeded:
Section 77.23(a)(2) by 135 feet - a height that exceeds 200 feet above ground level (AGL) within 2.62 NM of
SDC.

Proposal has the following Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) Effect at SDC:

SDC RNAV (GPS) RWY 28 LNAV Increases Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) from 980 to 1180, No Effect
Height (NEH): 714 feet AMSL (without “2C” survey), Increases MDA from 980 to 1140, NEH: 730 feet
AMSL (with “2C” survey).

SDC Take-Off Minimums RWY 10 Increased from 300-2 (Ceiling-Visibility) to 500-3 or Standard with Climb
Gradient from 427 feet per NM until reaching 700 to 427 feet per NM until reaching 1100, NEH: 762 feet
AMSL.