Aviation Glint & Glare: Schiphol Enforces Solar Panel Removal

Aviation Glint & Glare Schipol Enforces Solar Panel Removal

In a significant escalation of aviation safety policy, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport enforces the removal of solar panels from a nearby logistics centre after concluding that glint & glare from reflected sunlight posed a critical risk to pilots during final approach. This landmark decision highlights the growing importance of glint and glare assessments in airspace safeguarding and serves as a powerful reminder to developers, operators, and regulators of the hazards improperly positioned photovoltaic (PV) systems can present in aviation contexts.

This article provides a technical overview of the Schiphol enforcement case, explores the mechanisms through which glint and glare affect aviation safety, and outlines how robust assessment methodologies can help mitigate risk. It concludes with a practical note for developers and local authorities in the UK, where glint and glare assessments are increasingly demanded by planning authorities and civil aviation stakeholders.

The Schiphol Case: Summary of the Enforcement

In early 2025, Schiphol Airport identified significant glare incidents originating from the De Groene Energie Corridor (DGEC) solar park, located adjacent to the airport’s operational flight paths. The facility, comprising nearly 230,000 solar panels, was designed to deliver sustainable energy to local infrastructure but had not been adequately assessed for aviation glint and glare risks.

Glare from the panels was reported by pilots and air traffic controllers during morning and afternoon hours, with particular issues affecting operations on the Polderbaan and Zwanenburgbaan runways. In March 2025, Schiphol was forced to close the Polderbaan runway daily between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. due to the visibility hazard. The airport subsequently warned that continued glare could jeopardise operations from late August 2025 onward, potentially incurring over €300 million in economic losses.

Following legal proceedings, a Dutch court ordered the removal of 78,000 panels in two phases - half by 1 September and the remainder by 15 October 2025. Despite the operators proposing mitigation measures, including the application of anti-reflective film, Schiphol and the court determined that removal was the only viable solution to eliminate the risk to aviation safety.

The enforcement underscores the need for comprehensive glint and glare assessments prior to approval and installation of solar energy developments in the vicinity of airports.

Understanding Glint and Glare in Aviation

What Are Glint and Glare?

Glint refers to a momentary flash of sunlight reflected off a surface, often associated with curved or specular materials.

Glare is a sustained reflection of the sun that may reduce visibility, cause distraction, or even temporarily impair vision - a serious concern for pilots and ATC staff.

Both effects are dependent on the relative position of the sun, the surface geometry of the reflector, and the location of sensitive receptors such as air traffic control towers, cockpit flight paths, or airfield instrumentation.

How Do They Impact Aviation?

Pilots’ visual perception during take-off and landing - the most safety-critical phases of flight.

ATC operations, where controllers rely on unobstructed visual observation of runways and aprons.

Instrument visibility, particularly when reflective surfaces align with the direct solar path and affect camera or sensor performance used in automated systems.

The potential for disability glare - where vision is not just uncomfortable but functionally impaired - can increase the probability of operational error or accident, particularly in VFR (Visual Flight Rules) environments.

Technical Factors in Glint and Glare Risk

1. Surface Orientation and Reflectance

PV panels typically have an incident glass surface with a reflectance of 2–10%, depending on anti-reflective coatings. While modern panels are designed to maximise absorption, residual specular reflection can still occur, especially at low solar elevations.

2. Sun Angles and Flight Paths

The hazard is often limited to a short period during the day when:

The sun’s azimuth and elevation align with critical sightlines (e.g. ATC tower windows, cockpit approach angles).

Reflection geometries permit specular reflection to intersect these receptor locations.

Technical tools based on the FAA SAGHAT analysis allow the precise mapping of glint and glare risk to pilots and ATC operators.

3. Duration, Intensity, and Timing

Mitigation strategies hinge on understanding whether the reflection is:

Brief or sustained

Intense (causing retinal after-image or impairment)

Coincident with operationally sensitive periods (e.g. early morning landings facing east)

The Schiphol case involved recurrent daily glare exceeding 20 minutes in duration - well above typical acceptability thresholds set by guidance such as the FAA's Technical Guidance for Evaluating Glare at Solar Energy Installations and the UK Civil Aviation Authority's CAP 1367 and of an intensity considered to be high enough to cause major distraction to pilots on approach.

Regulatory and Planning Context : Aviation Glint & Glare Solar Panel Removal

ICAO Safeguarding Standards

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets out safeguarding zones and recommends risk assessment where any development may compromise visual navigation or air traffic management. While ICAO Annex 14 does not explicitly regulate solar PV, its principles underpin local aviation safeguarding policies globally.

UK Position – CAP 1367 and Local Planning Authority (LPA) Requirements

In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) CAP 1367 provides the key guidance on CAA involvement in planning applications. It identifies glint and glare from solar developments as a material consideration when within proximity to an airport or air navigation facility. As a result:

Developers are often required to submit Glint & Glare Impact Assessments.

Some LPAs condition approval on independent verification of solar reflection modelling.

Airports and the MOD (Ministry of Defence) can issue formal objections based on safety concerns.

What Makes a Good Glint & Glare Assessment?

A professionally executed glint and glare assessment should include:

A 3D geometric model of the solar array and surrounding terrain/buildings

Precise sun path simulations for 365 days/year

Identification of aviation-sensitive receptors (e.g. runways, towers, heliports)

Quantitative metrics: timing, duration, and intensity of predicted glare

Classification of glare impact severity (e.g. "low potential for after-image" vs "high potential for temporary flash blindness")

Mitigation measures, such as:

Panel angle adjustments
Use of anti-reflective coatings
Landscape screening or louvres
Array repositioning

Panel angle adjustmentsUse of anti-reflective coatingsLandscape screening or louvresArray repositioning

Why Schiphol's Action Sets a Global Precedent

The Schiphol case matters not only for its technical handling but for its broader planning message:

Airports are willing to override commercial rooftop solar schemes in the interest of safety.

Post-construction enforcement is possible - it’s not just about getting permission; monitoring continues after installation.

Mitigation is not always sufficient - where simulation shows unacceptable risk, removal may be the only outcome.

Precedent for UK Airports - such action legitimises similar positions by UK airports, especially in dense urban contexts (e.g. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester).

Key Takeaways : Aviation Glint & Glare Solar Panel Removal

Large-scale solar parks can cause severe aviation safety risks if glint and glare are not accounted for.

Schiphol’s enforcement sets a legal and operational precedent - panel removal may be mandated even post-installation.

Economic consequences are substantial - Schiphol anticipated €300+ million in losses without intervention.

Early and expert glint and glare analysis is critical - particularly for installations near protected approach paths.

UK airports and LPAs are increasingly vigilant - lessons from Schiphol are likely to influence domestic planning scrutiny.

Developers should seek expert support from the outset to ensure simulations, receptor analysis, and mitigation proposals meet aviation authority expectations.

Rooftop and ground-mounted PV systems alike must be assessed for glare impact using validated technical methods.

Neglecting glint and glare risks can lead not only to project delays, but to enforced dismantling and reputational harm. Preventative analysis is always more cost-effective than reactive enforcement.

Aviation Glint & Glare Solar Panel Removal : Final Thoughts

As solar technologies proliferate across logistics parks, commercial roofs, and façades, aviation stakeholders must remain alert to the growing potential for hazardous reflections. The Schiphol enforcement case illustrates the serious operational consequences of failing to manage these risks.

For developers and planners, the message is clear: early-stage glint and glare assessment is not optional - it’s essential. And for airports and airfields, ensuring flight safety means collaborating with technical specialists who understand both solar physics and operational safeguarding.

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