$5.4m aerospace runway opens at Kaitorete (Birdlings Flat)

[McFly]

New Zealand's growing aerospace sector received a big lift on Friday with the opening of an upgraded 1km runway and hangar on Banks Peninsula.

The Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre and new sealed runway at Kaitorete aim to expand the aerospace sector and help meet international demand. Domestic and international companies are already testing and trialling their technology at the facility. Wisk Aero recently conducted its world-first test flights for an uncrewed aircraft out of Kaitorete and Dawn Aerospace, while Kea Aerospace will now be able to conduct horizontal space launches and stratospheric flights from the site.

The new 1km runway and planned hangar facilities were funded by a $5.4 million grant from the New Zealand Government’s regional strategic partnership fund, administered by Kānoa. Tāwhaki board member David Perenara-O’Connell said mana whenua (indigenous people) of Kaitorete were proud to be supporting the sector. "To fully enable the sector, supply chains and realise the economic benefits for all New Zealanders, takes a collaborative approach. "We’re grateful for the support of our government, local authorities, regulators, aerospace partners, research and science communities, and suppliers who share our vision of a world-leading hub for innovation and exploration. "We believe that this mission is truly unique. The way in which we weave together mātauranga Māori (indigenous knowledge) with cutting-edge innovation in aerospace and environmental rejuvenation, marks a new era in sustainable land use.”

Kaitorete offers consistently clear skies and access to a wide range of orbits from an unpopulated flat strip of land about 25km long between Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere and the Pacific Ocean.


Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre runway. Photo: Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre

Its proximity to air and seaports and advanced manufacturing capabilities in Christchurch makes the site unique. Said Tāwhaki chief executive Linda Falwasser: "We have one of the world’s best locations for aerospace and space launch and we’re prioritising critical infrastructure alongside rejuvenation of this special whenua (land). "This includes exploring solar power and green hydrogen production and storage.

"The research, science and innovation we can host will help ensure Kaitorete flourishes for generations to come. "Aotearoa and the world will benefit from the discoveries here, with operators developing new methods and technologies for environmental monitoring, weather and disaster forecasting, precision agriculture, sustainable space transport and beyond,” said Falwasser.

Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre (link)

ODT (link)

Birdlings Flat Runway - rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/30225/birdlings-flat-runway

MUS100183- Aerial oblique view of Birdlings Flat landing ground and Kaitorete Spit looking towards the outlet of Lake Ellesmere (right).


MUS100182 - Aerial oblique view of Birdlings Flat landing ground on Kaitorete Spit. Lake Ellesmere at left.

[johnnyfalcon]

Further Aeronautical chart changes?

[davidd]

I imagine that most forumites will have gathered that the two views of the "spit" are taken from opposite directions! Incidentally there ARE some permanent human inhabitants on the "spit", although they are all nestled together on the seaward side at the eastern end, in a long-standing settlement usually known as Birdlings Flat. Or they WERE there when I visted a year or two ago - perhaps things have changed since? This settlement would be in top photograph on extreme right-hand side, but is too distant to show on this image. There may be some basic "fisher folk" cabins on the western end of the spit, but perhaps this also out of date? Incidentally the wartime RNZAF airfield and buildings can just be seen on lower (b&w) photograph, near road on LH side, approximately on horizontal out line from the "1500" and "F/8?" annotations on the margin. Could even be a gaggle of aircraft on field (maybe Oxfords?)