Parakai Airport

[ErrolC]

www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/113223106/west-auckland-airport-seeks-airport-authority-status-in-order-to-shake-rural-zoning-tag

A small Auckland airport has sent its community into a spin after asking the Ministry of Transport to grant it special powers.

West Auckland Airport in Parakai applied to the Ministry of Transport for it be given airport authority status. If granted, it would give the airport a range of new powers and responsibilities, such as the ability to make bylaws (subject to central government approval) and the power to apply to compulsory acquire land.

If authority status is granted, the airport could also seek that the Auckland Unitary Plan make provisions for the airport and its protection.
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The airport at 76 Green Rd is mostly used for sky diving, flight training and recreational flying and operates under a rural productive zoning governed by Auckland Council.

Last year the airport applied for airport authority status.

The Ministry of Transport said in a letter to local residents that West Auckland Airport planned to develop the airport, with the aim of attracting commercial passenger-carrying airlines. Part of this plan could include development of a new, longer runway.

If that were to occur flight paths may change.
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[Dave Homewood]

That sounds like a very good idea. Maybe if it works other airports should follow suit to get the necessary protection to not be forced out by NIMBY's.

[FlyingKiwi]

Agreed it sounds like a good plan, I think in the coming years local airports are going to become an increasingly rare commodity, and it would be nice to see them regarded as the community assets they are rather than an annoying hindrance to housing development. I do think Parakai are a bit ambitious though to think commercial flights will use the airfield if the runway is lengthened, the main issue at Parakai as anyone who has flown into the airfield will be aware of is that the hills are very close to the eastern boundary of the airfield, which requires either a very steep approach or else a fairly short base/final turn along the ridgeline. I know the skydiving company operates the PAC 750 out of it but I couldn't really imagine a scheduled passenger service easily going in and out, even with something like a Cessna Caravan let alone an ATR. I guess it could be marketed to aviation enthusiasts as the new Kai Tak.