Solar panels blind pilots approaching Schiphol; Runway closed for 2 hours on sunny days
Pilots are struggling with an annoying glare from a nearby solar park when landing at Schiphol Airport. After weeks of complaints piling up, the aviation sector has decided to close the Polderbaan runway for two hours on sunny mornings, NH Nieuws reports.
For the time being, the Polderbaan will be closed for landings between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. when the sun is shining. Various parties from the aviation sector, united in the Integral Safety Management System (ISMS), urged the municipality and the Ministry of Infrastructure to take more sustainable measures last week.
The issue is with De Groene Energie Corridor (DGEC), a solar park located between the Rotterpolderplein junction and the village of Zwanenburg. It is right next to the A9 towards Haarlem and under the approach route for the Polderbaan.
The Haarlemmermeer municipality has urged the owner of the solar park, the independent green energy producer Energy Solutions Group, to take action. “DGEC has indicated that it understands the urgency and will investigate various possible measures that they can take quickly. In addition, research is being conducted into a definitive solution,” the office of mayor and aldermen said in a letter to the municipal council last week.
The involved parties all want to limit the closure of the Polderbaan to a minimum because not using that runway has an impact on the noise pollution around Schiphol. The measure will apply until March 23 or earlier if another solution is found.
