Sectional Charts

The Chart User's Guide singles out wind turbine farms for a specific caution. What is it?

Answer

Turbine blades and blade tips are not lighted, and the obstruction lights sit on the nacelle, in some cases 200 to 300 feet below the rotating blade tips

The Chart User's Guide reminds pilots that wind turbine blades and blade tips are not lighted and that obstruction lights are located on top of the nacelle at the hub, which in some cases can be 200 to 300 feet below the rotating blade tips. A farm is drawn as a hatched area with a boxed MSL elevation for the highest turbine.

Source: Chart User's Guide, Obstruction legend

Not the answer

  • Wind turbines are never charted, so they must be found visually
  • Wind turbine heights are always shown in AGL rather than MSL
  • Wind turbine farms are charted as restricted areas requiring permission

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