OurAirports: Comments on airports in New Zealand

[NZUN] "Incident" by Capitano.Nico

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:16:34 -0400

Comment by @Capitano.Nico on Pauanui Beach Glider Airport, New Zealand:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/aviation/news/article.cfm?c_id=556&objectid=10761107

[NZTI] "hi" by Anonymous Flier

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:09:50 -0400

Comment by an Anonymous Flier on Taieri Airport, New Zealand:

[NZCH] "Airport closed?" by Anonymous Flier

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:54:25 -0400

Comment by an Anonymous Flier on Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand:

Hi, is the airport closed to international arrivals today? Due snow?

[NZCH] "re: CHC" by bigjulie_chc

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 21:09:29 -0400

Comment by @bigjulie_chc on Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand:

Reply to @Ozguy: Thanx very much, Ozguy!

[NZTT] "What a bonus!" by Anonymous Flier

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 12:12:25 -0400

Comment by an Anonymous Flier on Te Kuiti Airfield, New Zealand:

I was on my way to New Plymouth when i saw the sign indicating an airfield "This Way". What is one to do on plane spotting tour of NZ? I'll give you three guesses! You'll only need one i think.

That was 4 years ago and i'm planning a further tour of NZ so any info of airfields anywhere in NZ, whether in the North or South Island much appreciated!

[NZNS] "Flying in Nelson" by Anonymous Flier

Mon, 30 May 2011 22:01:26 -0400

Comment by an Anonymous Flier on Nelson Airport, New Zealand:

There's a great flying training and aircraft hire outfit - Nelson Pilot Training.

they have a website: flyNPT.co.nz

They are great for converting your license for temporary NZ PPL. Great instructors and very good value for money.

The cheif flying instructor, Dave Marriott, is really experienced.

[NZWP] "NZWP" by B747FE

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:07:17 -0400

Comment by @B747FE on RNZAF Base Auckland-Whenuapai, New Zealand:

Great Airport, Great Air Traffic Controllers, Great Nav Aids. i.e. VORTAC, ILS, GPS approaches. Very Good Aero Club on site.

[NZWP] "RNZAF Whenuapai Whenuapai Aviation Sports Club." by Anonymous Flier

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:03:37 -0500

Comment by an Anonymous Flier on RNZAF Base Auckland-Whenuapai, New Zealand:

They have a Great Flying Club, Some great people passionate about flying. Very handy location to sneak away to for a fly. User friendly runway, needs a packed lunch to get from one side to the other. Tend to get a bit spoiled for the little narrow ones. Easy to find; bear left a little at the big bridge and look for the big buildings. Watch for the "big Birds" tho.

[NZAH] "Before the steel company came." by Anonymous Flier

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:03:01 -0500

Comment by an Anonymous Flier on Taharoa Iron Sands Heliport, New Zealand:

I was raised as child in Taharoa for a few years before the steel company came, there was no road access to the small village where the small farms were dotted around, where the owners of the land were situated.

Access back then was on a small boat with a seagull engine across the lake known as lake Taharoa.

To get to the small farmhouse, locally known as it is today as the point named after Albatross point the small penninsula which juts out into the sea.

Life back then was so relaxed people were self sufficient, the phones were on the party line system.

I could go on and on. I visit the family and the small homestead when I go back to New zealand, as my fond memories of that place and the elders who have past on have cemented a special place in my heart for what it used to be and what it has become today.

[NZ-0014] "Low tide only" by david

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:12:37 -0400

Comment by @david on Big Bay Beach strip, New Zealand:

Comment from @Capitano.Nico - "Usable around low tide. Check tide tables."

[NZWG] "re: Wigram" by david

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:48:48 -0400

Comment by @david on Wigram Airport, New Zealand:

Reply to @rdsair: very sad news.

[NZWG] "Wigram" by rdsair

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:44:20 -0400

Comment by @rdsair on Wigram Airport, New Zealand:

The Former Wigram RZNAF Air Force Base or Wigram Airport is Closed

[NZ-0009] "station strip" by Anonymous Flier

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:47:29 -0500

Comment by an Anonymous Flier on Manuka Point Lodge Airstrip, New Zealand:

1800 ft elevation

You need permission to operate at this strip

[NZ-0009] "Manuka Point" by Anonymous Flier

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:14:28 -0400

Comment by an Anonymous Flier on Manuka Point Lodge Airstrip, New Zealand:

600m in length

outstanding airstrip

[NZGT] "Landing" by jkstreet

Tue, 05 May 2009 18:49:56 -0400

Comment by @jkstreet on Glentanner Airport, New Zealand:

A great place to land for a snack break under the eye of Mount Cook

[NZCH] "Operations" by jkstreet

Tue, 05 May 2009 18:46:49 -0400

Comment by @jkstreet on Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand:

An awesome airport for seeing lots of USAF aircraft involved in Operation Deep Freeze regular visitors throughout summer are C-17, C-5 and C-130.

[NZRT] "Expansion" by jkstreet

Tue, 05 May 2009 18:43:24 -0400

Comment by @jkstreet on Rangiora Airfield, New Zealand:

What used to be a little aerodrome has now got a lot bigger. A variety of aircraft from warbirds to helicopters operate from this airport daily.

[NZPK] "Closed?" by Capitano.Nico

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:24:48 -0500

Comment by @Capitano.Nico on Pikes Point Airport, New Zealand:

This great airstrip might be closed for good.

[NZ-0009] "Trophy hunting, anyone?" by Capitano.Nico

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:49:09 -0500

Comment by @Capitano.Nico on Manuka Point Lodge Airstrip, New Zealand:

They will cater for you up there.

[NZGS] "Railway line" by Capitano.Nico

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:45:36 -0500

Comment by @Capitano.Nico on Gisborne Airport, New Zealand:

Luckily (or maybe not) the rail transport is not that advanced and under utilised and you could wait all day to see a train!

[NZGT] "Favourite stop for lunch" by Capitano.Nico

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:35:29 -0500

Comment by @Capitano.Nico on Glentanner Airport, New Zealand:

My route took us from CHC to the Westcoast, past the glaciers and Mt Cook to this nice place. You need to ring ahead.

[NZVL] "General info" by psb777

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:52:55 -0500

Comment by @psb777 on Mandeville Aerodrome, New Zealand:

There once was a cafe/restaurant. No more. The airfield is home to the Croydon Aircraft Company - specialist restorers of vintage wooden aircraft. Tiger Moth and other De Havilland aircraft available for scenic flights and flying lessons. The De Havilland Dragonfly is one of only two flying anywhere. Airfield is grass and well maintained. Visiting aircraft welcome. No fuel.

[NZPH] "Pudding Hill" by 60503

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:01:48 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Pudding Hill Aerodrome, New Zealand:

Thanks SkydivingNZ for permission for a quick in-and-out on your strip.

Flew ZK-SBK (Cessna 172-P) into here on 28 Sep 2008.

[NZUK] "Great place" by Capitano.Nico

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:11:04 -0400

Comment by @Capitano.Nico on Pukaki Airport, New Zealand:

They are building the first airport viallage in the South Island of NZ here.

[NZKI] "Kaikoura Airfield" by 60503

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:45:09 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Kaikoura Airport, New Zealand:

First trip here for me was on a cross country trip for my PPL on 6 Feb 2003 in a Piper Cherokee PA-28-140, ZK-CUY.

It was a dual trip with Anushka Painter. Corrie and Jordan came along for the ride.

I remember there being an onshore breeze requiring a good crosswind landing - the seal is only 10m wide.

[NZWR] "Whangarei - NZWR" by 60503

Fri, 30 May 2008 01:41:51 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Whangarei Airport, New Zealand:

18 October 2005 - my first landing at Whangarei, having grown up north of Whangarei near Hikurangi.

Aircraft was ZK-CNY, a Piper PA-28-160 upgraded to 180hp.

From memory I landed about 30 cm high and bounced accordingly - I'll blame that I was flying from the right seat.

[NZUK] "NZUK - Pukaki Airfield, Twizel" by 60503

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:34:22 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Pukaki Airport, New Zealand:

A sealed and grass strip conveniently close to Twizel, and great little town in the Mackenzie Basin. My first landing here was in an Robin Alpha 2160 ZK-RBN on 30 December 2003, a few days after getting my rating for this aircraft. My father was my passenger, and we enjoyed calm and clear weather on a great cross country outing from our home base of the Canterbury Aero Club at Christchurch. We carried on from Pukaki to Omarama airfield (NZOU), then down the Waitaki Valley for a stop at Timaru Airport (NZTU), and then home to Christchurch.

[NZWF] "Warbirds over Wanaka" by david

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:28:45 -0500

Comment by @david on Wanaka Airport, New Zealand:

Every two years, this airport hosts "Warbirds over Wanaka", a major international show attracting over 100,000 spectators:

http://www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com/

[NZGS] "Rail line crosses the runway" by david

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:59:56 -0500

Comment by @david on Gisborne Airport, New Zealand:

If you zoom in on the satellite photo a bit, you can see that the Palmerston North-Gisborne railway line crosses the runway.

[NZWG] "Wigram" by 60503

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:42:25 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Wigram Airport, New Zealand:

Actually, just remembered that I made a number of dual flights from Wigram in an RNZAF Airtrainer way back in 1982, but they were all dual, so don't really count.

[NZAP] "Taupo" by 60503

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:38:55 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Taupo Airport, New Zealand:

First time here was in Oct 05 in CNY with BSC. Can't remember who landed - might have been me?

[NZWU] "Wanganui" by 60503

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:37:27 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Wanganui Airport, New Zealand:

Did some touch and gos here in a CT-4E dual flight in 2004

[NZOH] "Ohakea" by 60503

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:36:38 -0400

Comment by @60503 on RNZAF Base Ohakea, New Zealand:

First time here was when going for a dual flight in a CT-4E in 2004

[NZWG] "Wigram" by 60503

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:35:33 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Wigram Airport, New Zealand:

First landing here late 2006 - precautionary landing after experiencing a total electrical failure.

[NZHK] "Hokitika" by 60503

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:34:20 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Hokitika Airfield, New Zealand:

First visit in ZK-CUY on a pre-PPL cross country from Christchurch

[NZGT] "Glentanner" by 60503

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:33:31 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Glentanner Airport, New Zealand:

Winter 05 in an Archer

[NZOU] "Oamaru" by 60503

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:32:48 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Oamaru Airport, New Zealand:

Touch and go in ZK-RBn 31 Dec 05

[NZTU] "Timaru NZTU" by 60503

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:32:02 -0400

Comment by @60503 on Timaru Airport, New Zealand:

I first landed here in ZK-RBN on 31 Dec 05.

[NZAP] "Flying around volcanoes" by Yannick

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:29:42 -0400

Comment by @Yannick on Taupo Airport, New Zealand:

We did a scenic flight in a C172 out of Taupo, over the huge Lake Taupo (itself filling the caldera of a massive volcano that erupted last 1,800 years ago, and there are some theories that the Ice Age would have been caused by the ashes from its largest explosion 26,500 years ago), then down to Ruapehu, a 9000ft volcano which is still active. A unique experience and a must-see for anyone visiting New-Zealand north island.

[NZWN] "WLG" by Ozguy

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 06:52:04 -0400

Comment by @Ozguy on Wellington International Airport, New Zealand:

Without question the windiest airport on earth.

[NZCH] "CHC" by Ozguy

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 06:50:24 -0400

Comment by @Ozguy on Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand:

A good airport in a lovely city.

[NZAA] "AKL" by Ozguy

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 06:49:14 -0400

Comment by @Ozguy on Auckland International Airport, New Zealand:

Many of the taxiway identifiers are painted on the concrete, and this makes them difficult to read, especially at night or when it is raining.