Solar Power Your Airport Safely Through Planning

by Cassandra Isackson
Director, Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine – Aug/Sept 2016

We are fortunate to have many long sunny days throughout the spring-summer-early fall seasons. And that abundance of sunshine can turn thoughts to using that solar power at Minnesota airports. While that might be advantageous in the not too-distant future, there is much that needs to be considered and planned for well before the commitment to solar is made.

Solar power systems are rapidly growing in many areas and industries of our nation and the world. Airports across the U.S. are beginning to build and install solar power generation systems to help, in time, power their airport in an environmentally clean and cost effective method. But solar panels on a plot, in a field, or on top of a building, for instance, can seriously impact aviation safety through excessive glare.

A solar infographic can be downloaded from our webpage at:  www.dot.state.mn.us/aero/. When an analysis of a proposed project is needed, please contact our Aviation Planning group and ask for Rylan.juran@state.mn.us, 651-234-7190.

I also want to share with you information about your paved airport. We have a statewide contract with Applied Research Associates (ARA) to monitor pavement conditions at your airport. ARA collects the pavement field distress data annually on one-third of Minnesota’s airports. The ARA reports provide a great deal of information. You can view the report for your airport at: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/aero/, then click on “airport development” and finally click on “pavement management.”

If you have any questions about the report or the Pavement Management System, you may contact Dan Boerner at dan.boerner@state.mn.us or 651-234-7244.

As we head toward fall and the winding down of the flying season for many pilots, it is also the perfect time to start planning for next year’s activities. Remember to send us information about your favorite aviation event. We’ll post it on our “Events Page” so others can attend. Please check the events page at: www.dot.state.mn.us/aero/events/flyins-and-events.html for a list of aviation activities across the state. Send event information to:  janet.dirtzu@state.mn.us. Although we can’t attend every fly-in or event, we do go to several each year, so please invite us!

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