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Atlantic Shores explores aircraft-detection lighting to limit nighttime turbine visibility
Summary
A presenter said Atlantic Shores is studying aircraft-detection lighting (ADL) that would keep aviation obstruction lights off until radar detects an aircraft; historical flight data were cited showing lights would be active about 11 hours a year.
A presenter said Atlantic Shores is exploring aircraft-detection lighting (ADL) systems that would keep aviation obstruction lights on offshore wind turbines dark until radar detects an aircraft entering the defined airspace, then activate the lights.
The presenter described the expected appearance of the lights under different weather conditions, saying 'this view from Atlantic City illustrates' how the lights would look during clear viewing conditions and that 'under hazy conditions the lights will not likely be visible from shore.'
Explaining how ADLs work, the presenter said the systems 'provide a means to keep the aviation lights off until an aircraft reaches the defined airspace' and that when an aircraft is detected 'the aircraft will be detected by a radar system which will activate the lights.' The presenter added that, based on historical flight patterns in the Atlantic Shores lease area, the lights 'would be active for approximately 11 hours over the course of an entire year.'
The presenter framed ADLs as a mitigation measure, saying they 'would essentially eliminate the potential for nighttime visual impacts resulting from the aviation obstruction lights.' The presentation did not record a formal decision or vote; the transcript indicates Atlantic Shores is still exploring feasibility and no implementation timeline was provided.
What happens next was not specified in the transcript. The presenter did not cite regulatory approvals or a schedule for testing or deployment in the excerpt provided.
