Russell City Energy Center, California USA – Vertical Plume Velocity Assessment

Over the past few years the impact of industrial developments and their associated exhaust plumes on aircraft safety has become an issue. Katestone Environmental was first asked to assess this problem while preparing the Environmental Impact Statement for Oakey Power Station in late 1996. The situation at Oakey was particularly sensitive due to the nature of the power station (i.e. open-cycle gas turbine) and its close proximity to the end of a runway of an air-force training aerodrome.

Recently Katestone Environmental was approached by a US company that was planning to develop a gas turbine power station in close proximity to a runway to investigate the potential impacts on local aircraft safety. Power station developments in California are regulated by the California Energy Commission (CEC), the approvals process involves a public hearing at which all experts were asked to attend and be available for questions from the Commission and the public. Katestone Director, Christine Killip, made the 12,000 kilometre journey to attend the 4 hour hearing. Katestone applied the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia (CASA) Guidelines for conducting plume rise assessments AC 139-05(0), and the methodology was accepted by CEC.

The client was successful in its development application. Katestone has since been asked to assess similar developments in the United States in relation to the potential impacts of power station thermal plumes on aircraft safety.