The end of Warbirds Over Wanaka?

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I've been waiting to see if anybody was going to comment since the following article was published by the Otago Daily Times eight days ago, followed by an entry on the 3rd Level New Zealand blog. I would have thought that plenty of members of this group would at least be following the blog site, but perhaps you all missed it?


• Air NZ jets ready but airport is not


• Wanaka a Real Possibility?


As commented in the blog post, I imagine jet services into Wanaka (following lengthening and upgrading of the runway and other airport facilities) would mean the end of the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow. I don't know if there are any other suitable locations in Central Otago where the airshow could be moved to. I'm not intimately familiar with airports/aerodromes in the Cromwell/Alexandra area, which I suppose would be the only other nearby suitable site for an airshow. Would Alexandra aerodrome be large enough to cater for a big airshow?

[typerated]

Ever been to Avalon?

They manage to have a much bigger show than Wanaka interspersed with commercial flights.

[Peter Lewis]

I see no reason why Alexandra would not be capable of hosting.

Wanaka RW11/29 seal 1200 x 150m grass 900 x 60m
Alexandra RW14/32 seal 1200 x 30m grass 1200 x 60m

[Dave Homewood]

I see no reason why you're suggesting the airshow will not be able to run there. Mindless scare mongering.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Not so much scaremongering, Dave, but rather Worksafe NZ (formerly OSH) reality combined with AvSec fanaticism as far as scheduled jet services airports are concerned.

We don't, unfortunately, live in the relaxed, benevolent society we once used to live in.

[Dave Homewood]

The information being suggested has come from an unnamed source in the company passing on rumours to the media, and how do we actually know that what they said was "jet"? The newspaper reporter could have imagined that word themselves, as all newspapers do so often.

There would be no reason to put a jet service on the Auckland to Wanaka route anyway when a Dash 8 can fly in and out of there now without a runway extension and any need for extra infrastructure. There are not going to be that many people flying in and out each day to require a jet service, surely. It would not be cost effective for the airport owner to upgrade that much just for one jet a day anyway. Especially as they also own Queenstown Airport and would be competing with themselves.

And as for the blog speculating on an aircraft type that the company doesn't even own.... sheesh.

How about waiting to find out what the airline is ACTUALLY planning, and then waiting to find out if it effects the airshow and any other operators at the airport before we start this sort of ridiculous thread?

[mumbles]

Besides Avalon, Taupo, Auckland and Wellington have all managed to host air displays while managing commercial traffic. Unless there is anything specifically mentioned I'm not sure there is anything to worry about.

[Dave Homewood]

And Hamilton and Tauranga, Sam.

[ErrolC]

May 27, 2018 13:05:19 GMT 12 mumbles said:

Besides Avalon, Taupo, Auckland and Wellington have all managed to host air displays while managing commercial traffic. Unless there is anything specifically mentioned I'm not sure there is anything to worry about.

Current international regs might be a consideration if aircraft capable international flight were involved. Not only is this clearly manageable in at least some cases (Avalon), surely it will be decades before a runway suitable for a trans-Tasman B737/A320 type is worth the investment.

[nuuumannn]

So, this informed source works for Air NZ and represents the airline, then? Hmmm. Who will front up the infrastructure costs? Why do it at all with ZQN an hour away? Why bother with that route, with the size of the current regional fleet?

[markrogers]

I don't think Warbirds over Wanaka would be moving elsewhere. If the runway is made longer, then it would just make the airshow bigger!