CHART CHALLENGE SOLAR FARMS AND OCULAR GLARE BY MACHTELD SMITH I FOUND AN INTERESTING SYMBOL IN THE FAA'S AERONAUTICAL CHART USER'S GUIDE. It references high energy radiation areas including a special notation in a blue box: Solar Farm Ocular Glare. With the expanse of solar farm installations around the country, this is basically a warning to pilots that the glass panels may cause a hazardous glare when overflying a vast solar farm. In addition, installation of solar panels to create efficient energy at airports could cause glare for air traffic control and pilots. In 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration published a final policy that applies to proposed solar energy systems at federally obligated airports with control towers (public airports that have accepted federal assistance in the form of grants or property conveyances). As more airports invest in this technology, the FAA wants to make sure that the reflection from the systems' glass surfaces do not create a glare that poses a safety hazard for pilots and air traffic controllers. The FAA relies on the airport to confirm that it has sufficiently analyzed the potential for glint and glare and determined there is no potential for ocular impact to the airport traffic control tower cab. If any impacts are discovered after construction, the airport must mitigate the impact at its expense. The airport may also face compliance action for failure to address visual impacts that create aviation safety hazards. As such, the agency encourages an airport to conduct sufficient analysis before installing a solar energy system. Be safe! Machteld Smith is a senior editor for the AOPA Air Safety Institute. She holds a commercial pilot certificate with multiengine, instrument, and seaplane ratings. She loves flying seaplanes and the adventure of landing on rivers and lakes! Email: machteld.smith@aopa.org If you notice a charting error, please bring it to the FAA's Aeronautical Information Services' attention. Call: 800-638-8972 or use the web portal for aeronautical inquiries.https://nxt-staging-books.s3.amazonaws.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue1/src/Chart_Challenge_Solar_Farms.jpg https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/aero_data/Aeronautical_Inquiries/
