New Plymouth Airport
Encyclopedia
New Plymouth Airport serves the city of New Plymouth
, and the surrounding region of Taranaki. It is on the west coast of New Zealand
's North Island
, and geographically, is the closest airport in the country to Australia
. Locally speaking, it is 11 km from the city centre, on the highway north to Auckland
, and 4 km from the outer suburb/satellite town of Bell Block.
The airport is the 11th busiest airport in New Zealand with 37,097 aircraft movements in 2010. Beating Tauranga and Invercargill and just behind Queenstown. In October 2009, New Plymouth Airport was voted as the best regional airport in New Zealand.
, the airport became RNZAF
Bell Block Airbase. Post war, the airport returned to civilian use, and was used by New Zealand National Airways Corporation with links to Whenuapai
(Auckland) and Paraparaumu
(Wellington).
In line with a general improvement throughout the 1950s and 1960s, of New Zealand's infrastructure, and National Airways Corporation
(NZNAC) acquisition of Fokker F27
Friendships, New Plymouth's airport was reviewed. In view of the undulating land, the need for a tarmac runway for the F27, and the clearer approach paths required, a new airfield was soon under construction at the end of Brown Road (recently renamed Airport Drive). During construction of the airport, a small hill at the west end of the runway had to be levelled off, due to take-off and landing path infringements. This was rather controversial, due to said hill being a Māori burial ground. The government of the day decided to go ahead with construction anyway, and despite protests, the hill was levelled. Part of it still remains. The airport opened in 1966, replacing a grass airfield 3 km southwest, which is now industrial land. The foundation stone from the original airport, and a stone commemorating RNZAF Bell Block, were moved to the new airport when it opened.
The original terminal was renovated during the 1990s. The observation deck upstairs was lost at this time, and the outside observation area was lost in 2005, due to rising security concerns worldwide.
Like many other regional airports in New Zealand, New Plymouth airport has enjoyed considerable passenger growth over the past ten years. From 132,600 in 1997 to just under 250,000 for the year to December 2006. Passenger numbers are expected to increase by a further 10% to more than 275,000 for the 2007 calendar year.
subsidiary carriers, rental car outlets, flight arrival and departure monitors, public toilets, a cafe, and a Koru Regional Lounge.
New Plymouth Airport has a control tower with services provided by Airways Corporation. It is staffed from 6am to around 8 pm on weekdays, and reduced hours on weekends, to coincide with airline traffic movements. There is also one fire resuce unit and another small emergency unit based at New Plymouth Airport.
The airport's only sealed taxiway connects the apron and the asphalt runway, so aircraft taxi on the runway, and commence take off roll from runway ends. New Plymouth Airport is infamous for crosswinds, due mostly to the fact that although the tarmac runway faces into the prevailing SSW wind the area regularly receives a strong SSE/SE. The cross runway is not sealed, and thus airline traffic is limited to the tarmac runway, parallel to the sea. The tarmac runway is equipped with low intensity runway lighting, runway end lighting, and Precision Approach Path Indicators. The sealed taxiway and apron are also lit. The airport has VOR/DME equipment. It was equipped with an NDB, but this was recently removed.
New Plymouth Aero Club and its Air New Plymouth charter service are based at the airport, which carries out charter work and air ambulance services as well as providing a well recognised flight training facility. Aircraft located on the airport as of 2010 are 6 Cessna 152's (NPH, NPK, NPL, NPN (owned), FMV and JDB (leased)), a Cessna 172 (NPJ), a P68 Partenavia (ZSP), and a PA-31 Navajo (ECQ). Also located on site are a De Havilland Vampire, an L-39 Albatross, Four Yak 52's and a Catalina Flying Boat.
operated to/from New Plymouth for several years, finishing in 2005. They operated small Piper Navajo aircraft three times a week to Hamilton
and Palmerston North
.
Origin Pacific Airways
used to operate Jetstream J31 and Metroliner aircraft to/from Auckland
and to/from Nelson
6x weekly.
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
, and the surrounding region of Taranaki. It is on the west coast of New Zealand
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...
's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, and geographically, is the closest airport in the country to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Locally speaking, it is 11 km from the city centre, on the highway north to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, and 4 km from the outer suburb/satellite town of Bell Block.
The airport is the 11th busiest airport in New Zealand with 37,097 aircraft movements in 2010. Beating Tauranga and Invercargill and just behind Queenstown. In October 2009, New Plymouth Airport was voted as the best regional airport in New Zealand.
History
The original airport opened in 1933 with the New Plymouth Airport Act. It had five runways, the longest of which was around 5000 ft. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the airport became RNZAF
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
Bell Block Airbase. Post war, the airport returned to civilian use, and was used by New Zealand National Airways Corporation with links to Whenuapai
Whenuapai
Whenuapai is a suburb and airport located in the western Waitakere area of Auckland City, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres to the northwest of Auckland's city centre. It is one of the landing points for the Southern...
(Auckland) and Paraparaumu
Paraparaumu
Paraparaumu is a town in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. It lies in the Kapiti Coast, 50 kilometres north of the nation's capital city, Wellington....
(Wellington).
In line with a general improvement throughout the 1950s and 1960s, of New Zealand's infrastructure, and National Airways Corporation
National Airways Corporation
National Airways Corporation was the national domestic airline of New Zealand from 1947 until 1978 when it amalgamated with New Zealand's international airline, Air New Zealand. The airline was headquartered in Wellington...
(NZNAC) acquisition of Fokker F27
Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
Friendships, New Plymouth's airport was reviewed. In view of the undulating land, the need for a tarmac runway for the F27, and the clearer approach paths required, a new airfield was soon under construction at the end of Brown Road (recently renamed Airport Drive). During construction of the airport, a small hill at the west end of the runway had to be levelled off, due to take-off and landing path infringements. This was rather controversial, due to said hill being a Māori burial ground. The government of the day decided to go ahead with construction anyway, and despite protests, the hill was levelled. Part of it still remains. The airport opened in 1966, replacing a grass airfield 3 km southwest, which is now industrial land. The foundation stone from the original airport, and a stone commemorating RNZAF Bell Block, were moved to the new airport when it opened.
The original terminal was renovated during the 1990s. The observation deck upstairs was lost at this time, and the outside observation area was lost in 2005, due to rising security concerns worldwide.
Like many other regional airports in New Zealand, New Plymouth airport has enjoyed considerable passenger growth over the past ten years. From 132,600 in 1997 to just under 250,000 for the year to December 2006. Passenger numbers are expected to increase by a further 10% to more than 275,000 for the 2007 calendar year.
Facilities
The terminal is equipped with two check-in desks for Air New ZealandAir New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
subsidiary carriers, rental car outlets, flight arrival and departure monitors, public toilets, a cafe, and a Koru Regional Lounge.
New Plymouth Airport has a control tower with services provided by Airways Corporation. It is staffed from 6am to around 8 pm on weekdays, and reduced hours on weekends, to coincide with airline traffic movements. There is also one fire resuce unit and another small emergency unit based at New Plymouth Airport.
The airport's only sealed taxiway connects the apron and the asphalt runway, so aircraft taxi on the runway, and commence take off roll from runway ends. New Plymouth Airport is infamous for crosswinds, due mostly to the fact that although the tarmac runway faces into the prevailing SSW wind the area regularly receives a strong SSE/SE. The cross runway is not sealed, and thus airline traffic is limited to the tarmac runway, parallel to the sea. The tarmac runway is equipped with low intensity runway lighting, runway end lighting, and Precision Approach Path Indicators. The sealed taxiway and apron are also lit. The airport has VOR/DME equipment. It was equipped with an NDB, but this was recently removed.
New Plymouth Aero Club and its Air New Plymouth charter service are based at the airport, which carries out charter work and air ambulance services as well as providing a well recognised flight training facility. Aircraft located on the airport as of 2010 are 6 Cessna 152's (NPH, NPK, NPL, NPN (owned), FMV and JDB (leased)), a Cessna 172 (NPJ), a P68 Partenavia (ZSP), and a PA-31 Navajo (ECQ). Also located on site are a De Havilland Vampire, an L-39 Albatross, Four Yak 52's and a Catalina Flying Boat.
Airlines and destinations
Previous Airlines
SunairSunair
Sunair is an airline in New Zealand.It operates scheduled services in the north and east of the North Island, being headquartered in Tauranga and flying to Hamilton, Rotorua, Napier, Gisborne, Whakatane, Paraparaumu, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Auckland, Whitianga and Great Barrier Island. It...
operated to/from New Plymouth for several years, finishing in 2005. They operated small Piper Navajo aircraft three times a week to Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
and Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
.
Origin Pacific Airways
Origin Pacific Airways
Origin Pacific Airways was an airline based in Nelson in New Zealand operating freight services. Until 10 August 2006, the airline also operated scheduled and charter passenger services. Its main base was at Nelson Airport . It ceased all operations on 15 September 2006- Starting out :Origin...
used to operate Jetstream J31 and Metroliner aircraft to/from Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and to/from Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
6x weekly.
Aircraft
(This list is approximate and may be incomplete)- 1966 - 1990 Fokker F27 Friendships Mk 100 and Mk500
- 1990 - 2006 Fairchild-Swearingen Metroliner
- 1990 - 2007 Saab 340Saab 340The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
- 1995 - 2005 Piper Navajo
- 2000 - 2006 Jetstream J31 Occasional Jetstream J41 operations.
- 2005–present Bombardier Q300