Greater Gabbard, currently under construction off the Suffolk coast, is set to become the first UK offshore wind farm to use helicopters to take maintenance engineers to and from the site.

When the wind farm’s 100 turbines are up and running in 2012, a Bond EC135 helicopter will operate out of Lowestoft to fly pairs of engineers out to the site to maintain and repair the wind turbines. When the helicopter arrives at the relevant turbine, it will hover 5m over the maintenance platform and the engineers will be winched down so they can carry out their work. In future, the turbines may be fitted with helidecks so the helicopter can land.

If all goes well at Greater Gabbard, it’s expected that helicopter transport will become the preferred option for linking offshore wind farms with the shore. As well as offering a quicker and more comfortable journey, helicopters will also make it possible to easily reach and service future wind farms that will be built too far out to sea to be reached by boat.

Wilding says: ‘Wilding has been involved with Greater Gabbard since the early stages and it’s exciting to hear that one of our projects has been chosen to pioneer helicopter transport.’

Source: Flight Global