NZRC
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Ryan's Creek Aerodrome is a small airstrip on Stewart Island in southern New Zealand
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and ready for service with its new owner. All aircraft from Stewart Island Air Services were sold (apart from an Islander IAS which crashed on the strip and an FFL which remained with Southern Air). Stewart Island Travel used Ford Transit
s to take passengers to and from the strip and offered bus tours of the island's roads. Southern Air Limited purchased an Islander FGR shortly afterwards which proved to be a suitable aircraft for the job. Around 1986, an Islander FLU was bought. In 1990 a hill at one end of the strip was leveled; this left more room for aircraft to land, and allowed easier access to the strip. Southern Air then purchased FXE and FWZ in 1990 to replace FGR and FFL because of difficulty obtaining parts (FFL's main parts—such as its fuselage—are in Invercargill
, as are parts of FGR). Smith brought the post office/depot in 1995; Stewart Island Travel was no longer needed for van service, since Southern Air had Bedford CFs and Hiaces for this now. In 1997 Southern Air was brought by Allan Aitcheson, and the name was changed to Southern Air 1997 Limited. The company continued to use Ryan's Creek and remained accident-free, purchasing 172 DNP, 177RG DXS and the 402 VAC. VAC crashed off Bluff Hill in Aug 1998, when Robin Andrews was captain. Another accident involved JEM, which crashed on landing. In 2000 Southern Air 1997 Ltd was bought by Stewart Island Flights
, which uses FXE, FWZ 185, JEM PA32, RTS and DIV aircraft in its service.
of 288 feet (88 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway
, designated "04/22", which measures 800 by 66 m (2,624.7 by 216.5 ).
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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History
The aerodrome was built in the late 1970s to accommodate Stewart Island Air Services (flying Aztec DUB AZTEC TJE|TJE, 402 DSB, Nomad SAL, Islander IAS and Islander FFL). The strip was made of the native red rock from the area. In the mid-1980s Stewart Island Air Services changed its name to Southern Air Limited with Keith Smith, Joe Cave, Bill Haslett and Sam Nicol as shareholders. Ryan's Creek was asphaltedAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
and ready for service with its new owner. All aircraft from Stewart Island Air Services were sold (apart from an Islander IAS which crashed on the strip and an FFL which remained with Southern Air). Stewart Island Travel used Ford Transit
Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
s to take passengers to and from the strip and offered bus tours of the island's roads. Southern Air Limited purchased an Islander FGR shortly afterwards which proved to be a suitable aircraft for the job. Around 1986, an Islander FLU was bought. In 1990 a hill at one end of the strip was leveled; this left more room for aircraft to land, and allowed easier access to the strip. Southern Air then purchased FXE and FWZ in 1990 to replace FGR and FFL because of difficulty obtaining parts (FFL's main parts—such as its fuselage—are in Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
, as are parts of FGR). Smith brought the post office/depot in 1995; Stewart Island Travel was no longer needed for van service, since Southern Air had Bedford CFs and Hiaces for this now. In 1997 Southern Air was brought by Allan Aitcheson, and the name was changed to Southern Air 1997 Limited. The company continued to use Ryan's Creek and remained accident-free, purchasing 172 DNP, 177RG DXS and the 402 VAC. VAC crashed off Bluff Hill in Aug 1998, when Robin Andrews was captain. Another accident involved JEM, which crashed on landing. In 2000 Southern Air 1997 Ltd was bought by Stewart Island Flights
Stewart Island Flights
Stewart Island Flights is a regional New Zealand airline offering scheduled and scenic flights from its base in Invercargill to Stewart Island. It is a locally owned and operated company. Stewart Island Flights was previously called Southern Air and then Southern Air 1997 Ltd.- Services :Scheduled...
, which uses FXE, FWZ 185, JEM PA32, RTS and DIV aircraft in its service.
Facilities
The airport is at an elevationElevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 288 feet (88 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
, designated "04/22", which measures 800 by 66 m (2,624.7 by 216.5 ).