Eurocontrol Notice To Aircraft - Watchout for Kites Pulling Ships?!

[ricki]

Just got this in from Eric:

"Eurocontrol posts skysail warning
By John Croft

Eurocontrol is alerting aviation authorities worldwide of potential new collision threats due to ships that have begun experimenting with large high-flying kites or sails for auxiliary propulsion.

The action comes after a 15 September incident in which an aircraft descending over the southern North Sea reported seeing a kite or sail flying at approximately 305m (1,000ft) height "just below the clouds" ahead of a ship as it headed into port. Eurocontrol has not revealed the type or operation of the aircraft involved.

Skysail concept - Eurocontrol

"It was attached to the vessel and was in the flight path of the aircraft as it headed towards a nearby installation," the agency reports in a safety warning message issued today. "The 'skysail' was extended on a long cable and was moving around the vessel in an erratic manner."

Officials later determined that the ship in question is "the first in a line of experimental vessels using skysails to supplement the traditional propulsion units"."

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...l-warning.html



From: http://www.neatorama.com/2008/01/20/skysail/



From: http://blog.800hightech.com/skysails...v-beluga/2482/

[jetpack]

[kiteboardinggear]

Is this already into production?