Tag Archives: Air Traffic Control

FOR two police officers in New Mexico, in February, their fate was in the hands of the search and rescue teams who found them, when their aircraft crashed. A similar situation faced a businessman in 2019, when his aircraft crashed in the middle of the ocean.  All three were successfully rescued and returned to safety, thanks in no small way to the team at the IAA North Atlantic Communications Centre in Ballygirreen. Using the latest technology, they were able to direct the search and rescue crews to the exact locations of the crashed aircraft. One member of that team is Paula Quinn, who has 12 years’ experience in the sector, firstly as radio officer and now as a watch manager. Paula explains that it is vital the locations of all aircraft are monitored at all times and that until recently, it was difficult to get exact, real-time locations for aircraft flying over the oceans. “Monitoring of these aircraft relied solely …

THE global energy company behind plans for a proposed solar farm in Clarecastle have insisted that pilots flying in and out of Shannon Airport will not be affected by reflections of the sun from its solar panels. Engie Developments Ireland Ltd has applied to Clare County Council seeking a 10-year planning permission for the development of a solar farm on a site located in the townlands of Lissan West and Ballaghafaddy West, Clarecastle. The proposed solar farm will comprise the construction and operation of solar PV arrays mounted on metal frames on a site over 33ha, inclusive of a single electrical control building, substation, up to eight inverter units, one temporary construction area with ancillary facilities, boundary fencing with CCTV, an access track and all associated works. According to the developers, the solar farm, if given the go-ahead, will have a generation capacity of up to 19mw, enough electricity to power approximately 3,356 households. The planning application has been objected …