Committee investigating sites for Ruapehu airport

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 7, 14 July 1987, Page 9

Committee investigating sites for Ruapehu airport

There is a viable market for flights to Mt Ruapehu from Auckland and Wellington. That was the view expressed recently by the Air New Zealand marketing division in a letter to the Taumarunui Joint Airport Committee. The airport committee is investigating possible airport sites at National Park and near Owhango. Air New Zealand's commercial planning manager,

Mr P Burn, said flights to Ruapehu are not operating at present due to resource reasons rather than lack of potential market. He said Air New Zealand has already evaluated the possibility of Ruapehu flights. Mr Burn told the committee a 1200 metre sealed runway would be adequate for F27 (Fokker Friendship) landings. The Friendship carries 40 to 48 passengers. He said an extension to 1600 metres would allow for greater operational ease in flying longer distances, to Christchurch for example. Committee chairman, Mr Harry Bowen, said it appeared a 1200 metre runway would be adequate initially but 1600 metres would be the better option for the future. However Mr Bum said in the letter that Air New Zealand will not participate in joint airport development or control. That type of involvement is against current policy, the letter said. This leaves the committee with the main problem, that of finding the estimated $2 million to $3 million needed to build the runway and facilities. The increased off-season traffic resulting from Tongariro National Park's increasing popularity over summer and autumn plus Ruapehu Alpine Lifts' plans to operate their chairlifts in summer for sightseers, could prove to be a factor

in increasing an airport's viability. Initially Air New Zealand would look at weekend flights from Auckland and Wellington if the proposed airport proved viable. Due to fleet commitments to scheduled services during daylight hours, the airline would like to operate services to Ruapehu in the evening or hours of darkness. Mr Burn expressed concerns about transport from the airport to accommodation houses, but committee members pointed out at the meeting that rental car and bus operators would soon move in to take advantage of this opportunity. The distance from National Park or Owhango to accommodation was no further than from Mangere Airport to Auckland City, so this should not be regarded as a barrier. The factors that will prove most important in comparing the sites at Owhango and National Park are cloud formations and fog. Committee member, Mr Ivan Olson said that wind patterns and strength are not crucial to an airport's viability, but frequent lowlying cloud and fog can rule out a site for aircraft due to poor visibility. Mr Ken Malcolm, of the committee noted that if they could rule out any site as unsuitable because of weather, they could do more detailed - and costly - research on suitable land for the runway.