Which airport needs an upgrade?
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Which airport needs an upgrade?
Been talking on another thread and I was interested at how passionate some people were about the development of their favourite local airports. I've been amazed at recent years with the huge growth in passenger numbers. In Australia alone there have been several smaller airports which have passed the 1 million passenger mark for the first time for example Launceston and Newcastle.....Airports that have been investing in their infrastructure seem to be reaping the benefits. Also, unlike many airlines most airports make a positive return on investment and can be very profitable. So my question is if you had a few spare million to invest which airport would you develop and what would you do?
I think Wanaka airport near Queenstown represents a great opportunity as it is in the heartland of the NZ tourist industry and has the room to lengthen it's runway to international standards. A 2.5 Km runway would make it piossible to handle widebody flights from Asia. Currently Queenstown (1800 m) can't handle these flights because like Wellington it is constrained by it's runway length. There is also limited scope to expand without throwing tens of millions at it and upsetting too many local and environmentalist groups.
I think Wanaka airport near Queenstown represents a great opportunity as it is in the heartland of the NZ tourist industry and has the room to lengthen it's runway to international standards. A 2.5 Km runway would make it piossible to handle widebody flights from Asia. Currently Queenstown (1800 m) can't handle these flights because like Wellington it is constrained by it's runway length. There is also limited scope to expand without throwing tens of millions at it and upsetting too many local and environmentalist groups.
Last edited by ramyon; 11th Jan 2008 at 20:21.
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As much as I'd like to see WF getting extended it's not going to happen is it? If the QLDC (a pack of GCs) has invested lots into QN there wouldn't be much point doing up WF for jets. At the most a bigger terminal and a new set of desperately needed toilets and perhaps some Q300s in the winter for the ski bums (as an aside can the Q300s do gps into WF?).
Lets do up UK and start going back into MC!!
Lets do up UK and start going back into MC!!
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The list would be much shorter if you asked "which airport doesn't need an upgrade"?
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I'd like to see all the GAAP airports receive an upgrade to handle low capacity RPT. In conjunction, I'd also like to see some rules changed that currently protect RPT operators and their routes from charter operations.
La, la, la, fairyland is a wonderful place.
La, la, la, fairyland is a wonderful place.
NZMC has already been upgraded, about 4 years ago, it was widened in order for Pionair to fly the Convair into and out of. Still has the terminal facilities which Mt Cook Airlines used to use, so not much needs to be changed.
The long term vision for NZUK is for a new longer and wider runway, but that plan is for about 20 to 30 years time! But in order to use NZMC you need a suitable alternate close by otherwise its a very long bus ride when the winds are too strong, or cloud/vis is too bad to get in (very frequent events) - hence why Mt Cook used NZUK.
The long term vision for NZUK is for a new longer and wider runway, but that plan is for about 20 to 30 years time! But in order to use NZMC you need a suitable alternate close by otherwise its a very long bus ride when the winds are too strong, or cloud/vis is too bad to get in (very frequent events) - hence why Mt Cook used NZUK.
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Newcastle although reaping the rewards in pax numbers is in serious need of investment. Being a council owned business it's run with out experienced airport/aviation management. 
It's strategic location to Sydney is offering many around the Syd/Central and North Coast basin another option. However with the terminal in desperate need of an upgrade mixed in with council bureaucracy and lack of funding they are missing out on massive opportunities.
Newcastle City Council and Port Stephens Councils need to sell it off and allow a cashed up consortium to really run it to its maximum potential.
It's strategic location to Sydney is offering many around the Syd/Central and North Coast basin another option. However with the terminal in desperate need of an upgrade mixed in with council bureaucracy and lack of funding they are missing out on massive opportunities.
Newcastle City Council and Port Stephens Councils need to sell it off and allow a cashed up consortium to really run it to its maximum potential.
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The list would be much shorter if you asked "which airport doesn't need an upgrade"?
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nelson, the only thing they have upgraded in the last 20yrs is the carpet in the terminal
I actually miss the old carpet though it was so ugly it was beautiful.. Get sick of picking up my bags off the back of a tractor too......- put on a $5 development charge
- Bowl the golf course and a few properties near by to extend the runway north (1750-1850m out to do it)
- build a brand spanking new 2 million capable terminal
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........slip on over to BLT (Ballarat) where the rwys are like roller coaster rides !!!.........the spinal patients love 'em !
(slight thread drift here) And to think there's going to be a major training centre there. I can just see it now, send out a student for their first solo nav in the morning & by lunch time they'll be unable to find BLT again due the lovely wx they have there a lot during winter.........NOT !
CW
(slight thread drift here) And to think there's going to be a major training centre there. I can just see it now, send out a student for their first solo nav in the morning & by lunch time they'll be unable to find BLT again due the lovely wx they have there a lot during winter.........NOT !CW
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The long term vision for NZUK is for a new longer and wider runway, but that plan is for about 20 to 30 years time! But in order to use NZMC you need a suitable alternate close by otherwise its a very long bus ride when the winds are too strong, or cloud/vis is too bad to get in (very frequent events) - hence why Mt Cook used NZUK.
Nice big McKenzie basin too for instrument let downs, with two VOR beacons
Problem is the high MSAs getting into the basin, unless you're flying pressurised and high performance twins (capable of holding around 10,000' on one engine and certified into known icing conditions) into the area, then it gets very hard to run regular flights into the area.
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Try the Gladstone Saga. The Air Strip was built by local identies years ago, has been run(efficiently) by a progressive Board which includes Board Members from both Gladstone and Calliope Councils. They have tried to keep abreast with change as pax nos. increase due to the Industrial and tourist scene. (no I'm not a Board Member or associated with it)
Due to increased traffic and heavier Aircraft the runway has to be upgraded and extended.
The problem, Federal and State Govts. won't kick the can(surprise,surprise) yet they're willing to draw the income from what they all discribe as "the powerhouse of the Nation".
The Board has about 30 per cent of the cost of this project but seemed to have failed to get the Govt. support required.
You Dash8 Drivers could attest to the runway condition
The runway is getting to the stage of patches on patches, so there has been talk about the Airport being closed if we get a half decent wet Season(still plenty of time with the current Monsoonal Trough)
Even during the Porkbarrel Season prior to the Election no one would commit the dough ,and Flynn being a new Seat up for grabs, but I did get a Letter from Martin Ferguson stating if the ALP won Govt. they would " work with th Board on solutions to both the immediate issue of financing the Runway repairs and upgrade and longterm development." Still nothing.
You can't get through to the Locals they might well be without thier RFDS, Marine Pilot transfers, Island Transfers, RPT and FIFO and freight ops etc.
It's been that long since a wet season everyone seems to have forgotten the damage they can do.
Will Minister Albanese act on the word given by the previous Shadow Minister?
Yet to be seen.
I'm sure there are numerous Runways needing Govt. assistance around Oz, but this Region relies so heavily on it's Air Link.
We can only live in hope
Frothy
Due to increased traffic and heavier Aircraft the runway has to be upgraded and extended.
The problem, Federal and State Govts. won't kick the can(surprise,surprise) yet they're willing to draw the income from what they all discribe as "the powerhouse of the Nation".
The Board has about 30 per cent of the cost of this project but seemed to have failed to get the Govt. support required.
You Dash8 Drivers could attest to the runway condition
The runway is getting to the stage of patches on patches, so there has been talk about the Airport being closed if we get a half decent wet Season(still plenty of time with the current Monsoonal Trough)
Even during the Porkbarrel Season prior to the Election no one would commit the dough ,and Flynn being a new Seat up for grabs, but I did get a Letter from Martin Ferguson stating if the ALP won Govt. they would " work with th Board on solutions to both the immediate issue of financing the Runway repairs and upgrade and longterm development." Still nothing.
You can't get through to the Locals they might well be without thier RFDS, Marine Pilot transfers, Island Transfers, RPT and FIFO and freight ops etc.
It's been that long since a wet season everyone seems to have forgotten the damage they can do.
Will Minister Albanese act on the word given by the previous Shadow Minister?
Yet to be seen.
I'm sure there are numerous Runways needing Govt. assistance around Oz, but this Region relies so heavily on it's Air Link.
We can only live in hope
Frothy
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5miles
At Gladstone due to taxiway damage the Q400's have to backtrack to rwy10.
Bundy is another one for backtracking, Thangool and Emerald also. Bundy and Gladstone have high daily arrivals and departures thus causing delays.
Fortunately at Gladstone we all work in pretty well together with circuit adjustments to accomodate RPT. But as I said RPT has a good chance of going if the rains do anymore damage especially rwy10 near taxiway Delta.
We have no ICU at our Hospital and pretty well no Specialists so all urgent accident and cardiac pateints are transferred to Brisbane with RFDS, as well as the General Public having to go RPT to Brisbane for Specialist Medical Treatment.
This will not be possible if we lose our Runway. It's only when this happens the Public will wake up to the seriousness of the situation
Everyone in Town should be on to our newly elected MP as well as the new Minister and Opposition Leader, but apathy prevails
Frothy
At Gladstone due to taxiway damage the Q400's have to backtrack to rwy10.
Bundy is another one for backtracking, Thangool and Emerald also. Bundy and Gladstone have high daily arrivals and departures thus causing delays.
Fortunately at Gladstone we all work in pretty well together with circuit adjustments to accomodate RPT. But as I said RPT has a good chance of going if the rains do anymore damage especially rwy10 near taxiway Delta.
We have no ICU at our Hospital and pretty well no Specialists so all urgent accident and cardiac pateints are transferred to Brisbane with RFDS, as well as the General Public having to go RPT to Brisbane for Specialist Medical Treatment.
This will not be possible if we lose our Runway. It's only when this happens the Public will wake up to the seriousness of the situation
Everyone in Town should be on to our newly elected MP as well as the new Minister and Opposition Leader, but apathy prevails
Frothy
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Whangarei or Kerikeri (or both) need stronger runways for larger heavier aircraft. Nelson is the obvious choice for runway extension and strengthening.
Paraparaumu could be developed asa low cost alternative to relieve congestion at Wellington. PPQ has a natural catchment for about 30% of domestic travellers domiciled in the Wellington region.
Tauranga is a fast growing city and I am surprised the runway isn't extended there.
Paraparaumu could be developed asa low cost alternative to relieve congestion at Wellington. PPQ has a natural catchment for about 30% of domestic travellers domiciled in the Wellington region.
Tauranga is a fast growing city and I am surprised the runway isn't extended there.
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I say hamilton needs upgrade, not just a face lift. After the millions they have put into developing it, they havent increased capacity. runway length is the same, apron area is the same. Hamilton customs can not handle anything more than 1 full A320 at any one time. The airport mangers need to look long an hard about what they have done to the airport. to be hounst in terms of growth theres been 
all
all
Seasonally Adjusted
Kalgoorlie...... new management!!!! and new taxiways on RWY 11,29, and forget about the federales!!!!
***
Ignore the above, except for the new taxiway bit.
Some crab from the hangar has jumped onto my pooter in the office and had some fun. Time to uncheck the 'remember my password' option.
***
Ignore the above, except for the new taxiway bit.
Some crab from the hangar has jumped onto my pooter in the office and had some fun. Time to uncheck the 'remember my password' option.
Last edited by Towering Q; 13th Jan 2008 at 10:56.