There was a discussion on Queenstown on the first page of posts and ran into this article again, different source...
$12m expansion for Queenstown AirportQueenstown Airport has unveiled major expansion plans for a new $12 million international terminal.
The latest development stage at the ever-expanding airport, the fastest-growing aerodrome
in Australasia, envisages a three-stage construction job to build a 4000 square metre terminal
to the south of the existing airport.
The new building, designed by John Rogers from CCM Architects, will expand the overall airport
footprint by one third and double international capacity.
An outer shell will be erected by next winter and the interior will be developed in three stages.
Queenstown Airport chief executive Scott Paterson said more space was needed to meet surging
international demand. It was sensible to build a large shell with flexibility to develop inside.
"The pop-up structure we installed this winter worked really well and gave us more space for
international passengers but we need permanent terminal capacity. Our airlines are supportive
of the scale of the new build, which will give us the flexibility to move into the space when
triggered by demand."
Stage one involves new international arrival and departure lounges, customs' areas,
retail stores, baggage claim and offices, allowing 1000 passengers an hour through the
terminal compared with the existing "throughput" of 480 passengers.
Stage two involves ergonomic design for passenger movements between Customs, baggage claim
and biosecurity. Stage three involves developing a mezzanine for departure gates and retail space.
From
Stuff Article 17th OctoberAnother recent article this year discussed runway and lighting improvements and RNP - Required Navigation Performance - some upgrades not due until 2016:
Case for night-time landing GRANT BRYANT Last updated 12:46 14/05/2014
How safe are night flights into Queenstown Airport? Grant Bryant investigates.
While some whisper fears about the safety of night flights into Queenstown's infamously difficult airport, the New Zealand Airline Pilots' Association has come out in support of the proposal.
Queenstown Airport Corporation announced last week the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority and its Australian counterpart, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, had accepted a safety case that allowed provisional approval for night flights - pending infrastructure additions - by mid-2016.
The pilots' association came out with a statement a day after acknowledging ZQN was one of the country's "most challenging airports for pilots" because of its "geographic location and changeable weather" but said the safety improvement package automatically required with night flights would drastically reduce those challenges.
The association's technical director, Rob Torenvlied, said the group had long campaigned for improved safety at the airport, which the night flight package would deliver.
"The widening of the runway, installing of an approach runway lighting system, improved runway lighting and installing of additional obstacle lighting are all most welcome improvements for pilots operating into and out of the airport," he said.
"Although these improvements are being made to facilitate night-time operations, they will, in addition, provide significant safety benefits for daylight operations as well."
More safety would be added by airlines having to get Civil Aviation Authority approval to operate within the new regime.
The lowdown Required Navigation Performance (RNP)
● Hailed as the key to safety at the airport is a system based on an on-board computer receiving signals from multiple satellites to keep a plane on a pre-determined flight path. RNP creates a "virtual highway in the sky", mapped in 3D, which planes can "drive" through.
● While not completely auto-pilot, the pilot engages the system at an "initial approach fix" point of 10,000ft when the plane will be doing about 240knots. In an auto-pilot mode the pilot monitors the plane's progress as it slows and descends, with lateral and vertical position controlled by RNP.
● As the plane descends to 400ft and slows to 140knots, it reaches "decision altitude", where the pilot "goes visual", deciding whether to land or "go round" for another approach, and disengages auto-pilot. If landing, the pilot will use new runway lights as a landing guide. The pilot, aided by RNP, will "ensure precise touchdown and deceleration."
● RNP can be used night and day, and is commonly used when RNP-equipped planes fly into Queenstown Airport during winter.
● RPN was pioneered in Alaska in 1996, and has spread worldwide to airports that have mountainous approaches.
- The Southland Times -
Southland Times 14 May 2014Earlier discussion on lengthening the runway was here
www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/3169112/Runway-extension-ready-to-flyand new lights turned on - 7th July 2011
www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5246242/New-Queenstown-runway-lights-turned-on