Offshore Wind Farm Helicopter Search and Rescue Trials 12 Rotor control during SAR operations close to a turbine MCA’s Marine Guidance note 275 (M) (Ref. 3) specifies that rotors should be capable of being to be locked in a required configuration, normally the above “Y” configuration, by remote signal from ashore. This will allow access to the nacelle top and, under the nacelle, closer proximity to the base of the turbine. Helicopter pilots would need to be assured that the rotor blades were fully locked in both rotation and yaw before approaching a turbine. Fig 22: Rotor configuration specified by MGN 275 (M), Annex 4 13 Shore radar observations of the helicopter trials During the trials, observations of the helicopter movements were made using the twoshore –based radars which were also set up for the original trials. The mobile Environment Agency radar (Bridgemaster 250 series) was initially stationed on the seafront at Prestatyn, approximately 6 metres above sea level and 4 n.m. from the wind farm boundary. From this position the Sea King helicopter couldbe identified by radar when on the near side of the wind farm, but could not when within the wind farm site. From this position the vehicle was taken to a position close to the BHP Billiton radar site, approximately 200 metres above sea level and 5.2 n.m. from the wind farm boundary, when both radars were used to observe the helicopter trials. The positions of the radars were as indicated on the following chartlet.
Fig 23: Environment Agency Radar ( Photo coutesy of Environment Agency) Fig 24 : BHP Billiton radar at Gwaenysgor Fig 25: Gwaenysgor radar site (approx. 5.2 nm from the wind farm) |
