Schiphol runway closure extended as solar panel glare poses safety risk
The closure of Schiphol Airport’s Polderbaan runway will be extended by two weeks due to glare from solar panels at a nearby solar park, causing visibility issues for pilots, according to RTL. Initially set to end on March 23, the restriction will now remain in place until April 6, aviation authorities confirmed.
The decision, backed by Luchtverkeersleiding Nederland (LVNL), KLM, easyJet, and Schiphol, is reportedly necessary to ensure flight safety. “A short-term solution from the municipality is not yet available, and additional research shows that pilots will continue to experience impaired visibility due to glare over a longer period,” the parties stated in a press release. Meanwhile, authorities are working with the Haarlemmermeer municipality to find a long-term fix.
Until the daylight savings time change on March 30, the Polderbaan will be closed from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily when pilots report sun interference. After the time shift, closures will occur from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This disruption forces aircraft to reroute to the Zwanenburgbaan or Buitenveldertbaan runways, increasing noise pollution for residents near those flight paths.
The visibility issues reportedly arise from intense sunlight reflecting off thousands of solar panels at the recently constructed Groene Energie Corridor near Zwanenburg. Covering approximately 100 hectares, the solar farm was designed with an anti-reflective coating, but the glass still produces a glare strong enough to impair pilots' vision.
Schiphol Airport had recommended the use of specialized textured glass that absorbs rather than reflects sunlight. However, the solar park developers stated that such panels were unavailable at the time of construction.
