New Zealand’s Queenstown Airport has completed upgrades for its runway and airfield lighting system, which will allow it to receive aeroplanes flying at night from the end of April.
In 2014, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand and Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) set conditions to improve the airport’s runway and airfield lighting for evening flights.
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Over the past six months, the runway was widened from 30m to 45m, and resurfaced it with a 110mm asphalt overlay.
The deployment of a $1.65m airfield lighting package, which includes new taxiway, runway, and apron and approach lights, has been managed by air navigation service provider Airways New Zealand.
Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) acting CEO Mark Edghill said: "Over the past six months we have been co-ordinating two night-time projects to run almost in parallel and ensure that the airfield is safely ready for operations every morning, so it’s a real testament to the collaboration of number of organisations working well together and the commitment of everyone involved.
"A huge thanks to our contractors Downer and Beca and to the QAC and Airways teams for their professionalism, hard work and dedication in executing the project."
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By GlobalDataThe revamped runway and lighting system are now ready for aeroplanes flying into Queenstown Airport after dark.
Next week, the new upgrades will be tested and evening flight inspections will be carried out via helicopter.
Image: Queenstown Airport will soon be ready to receive after-dark aeroplanes. Photo: courtesy of Queenstown Airport.
