Waiuku Thomas Approach RWY 05 AKL

[Darren Masters]

Hello there, don't know if anybody on here knows or is aware of the seemingly new approach for RWY 05 into AKL, particularly the Waiuku Thomas approach? Noted a few times recently going directly now over our place rather than abeam (hey not complaining love the better view). Checked for weather and there was nothing significant around so assuming it was not weather diversions. When did this approach come into affect, it it here to stay, is it certain times of the day etc? Maybe someone from Airways NZ can answer. Have seen a lot of Airways NZ vehicles out this way too over the past few months also and wondered if that had something to do with the new APP? Any info appreciated. Below a screen shot of this:

[lindstrim]

For 05R it's WI Kauri. It's a shortcut on the arrival to save time, if the weather conditions are good enough for visual approaches into AKL. WI Tomas is the same for 23L. There's no promulgated plates for it either just radar terrain separation.

[Darren Masters]

Feb 10, 2015 19:53:11 GMT 12 lindstrim said:

For 05R it's WI Kauri. It's a shortcut on the arrival to save time, if the weather conditions are good enough for visual approaches into AKL. WI Tomas is the same for 23L. There's no promulgated plates for it either just radar terrain separation.

Thanks for the info

[hamfists]

There is actually a plate in the AIP

www.aip.net.nz/pdf/NZAA_34.1_34.2.pdf

That is a visual approach you can get cleared for, and has been in affect for ever so it makes me think, you're talking about the approved operator only Y approaches perhaps

www.aip.net.nz/pdf/NZAA_45.3_45.4.pdf

These are only a year or so old..and seems to be only A320s using them

[woody99]

NZAA 45.3 and 45.4 are RNP instrument approaches. ATC normally clear A320 via these approaches as they all have the capability (GNSS etc) to fly these procedures. Older aircraft such as 737 May or may not be GNSS capable.

There are RNAV waypoints at approx 3nm final for each runway at AKL. Kauri on 05R, and TOMAS on 23L. Aircraft flying visual approaches will be cleared (if arriving from the south to WI first) via these waypoints to final - ATC used to have a piece of kit that ensured aircraft were aligned for the correct runway during the rehabilitation programme a few years ago and aircraft had to join final at least 3nm from the threshold for this system to work. I'm not too sure if it's still there but for some reason we are still cleared via these points and no closer.

So, WI-TOMAS or WI- KAURI are simply commonly cleared tracks for aircraft on visual approaches. If aircraft are approaching from a more easterly or northerly track, they are cleared simply via TOMAS.

[hamfists]

They are "approved operator" only approaches. We have all the equipment too but we're not allowed. Looking at your FlightRadar track above, it looks like a bog-standard STAR for the 05R ILS to me? -WI-GITUK-LENGU-..etc

[slackie]

Woody99, the finals monitor is still there and used. Ensures that the aircraft are lined up on 05R/23L instead of the former temporary RWY Taxiway Alpha... which is why the TOMAS/KAURI requirement disappears at night.

[woody99]

Thanks Slackie! It's why I always try for a visual in the Airbus after dark.......:-)

[Darren Masters]

Thanks for all the info. Still trying to work it out. It did happen a whole heap over the 15th and 16th and it was A320's, 737's, ATR's and Dash 8's. For better purposes I have inserted a (very dodgy) paint illustration about what I am getting at. Green line depicts where the aircraft 'normally' fly and the red line is when they are directly overhead Waiuku township before taking up a right hand turn and tracking North to the waypoints LENGU you have mentioned. There will be a few of these arrivals on the red line then others will approach via the green line I have outlined. Only flying PPL (and very rarely these days) forgive the arrogance for the AKL approaches which I leave to the boys (thankfully) Just trying to work out the different approaches here at Waiuku as I don't seem to have noticed them approaching like this until recently.