Offshore Wind Turbines National Security

by Frank Haggerty

8 hours ago

Two Rhode Island fishermen died in January 2019 after their boat, the Mistress, capsized near the Block Island Wind Farm, with the incident sparking debate over the wind farm's impact on fishing safety and rescue operations due to turbine proximity and potential radar interference.
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The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston coordinated extensive search efforts, deploying multiple assets, including MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters from Air Station Cape Cod. Jayhawk helicopters are specifically designed as all-weather aircraft used by the U.S. Coast Guard for search and rescue missions in severe conditions, including high winds and storms.
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The FAA requires pilots to maintain appropriate vertical and lateral separation from obstacles, including wind turbines, in accordance with 14 CFR section 91.119. Attempting low-altitude flights between turbines can be hazardous.
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There is no single, fixed minimum distance for MH-60 helicopter spacing from wind turbines in official regulations; rather, pilots must adhere to general aviation safety rules, maintain visual meteorological conditions (VMC), and exercise professional judgment based on the specific operational environment.
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The spacing of wind farms is a subject of ongoing discussion between the aviation and fishing industries.
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The Initial search efforts were hampered by severe weather conditions, including 10-foot seas, winds of 30 to 35 knots, fog, and low visibility, which forced some aircraft and surface vessels to return to base.
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The search was suspended on the evening of January 2, 2019, after approximately 72 hours of searching had covered over 2,152 square nautical miles. The two missing men were not found, and it was deemed unlikely they could have survived any longer. 
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