| Invercargill Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: IVC – ICAO: NZNV
IVC
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| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | Invercargill Airport Ltd | ||
| Location | Invercargill | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 5 ft / 2 m | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 04/22 | 7,251 | 2,210 | Asphalt |
| 04R/22L | 2,280 | 695 | Grass |
| 07/25 | 1,398 | 426 | Grass |
| 12/30 | 2,996 | 913 | Grass |
Invercargill Airport (IATA: IVC, ICAO: NZNV) is a controlled aerodrome located 1 NM northwest of Invercargill at the south of the South Island of New Zealand. Formed on reclaimed land from the Waihopai River Estuary in 1938, the airport was prone to flooding, the worst being in 1984, leaving it unused for two months. At this time the city council proposed moving the airport back to Dawson Farm aerodrome, Myross Bush, the original site up to 1942. Instead a large flood protection scheme was built, but during its construction the airport was flooded again in 1987, thanks to a combination of heavy rain and an unusually high tidal surge. Once completed, the airport has had no problems since.
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The airport's first scheduled service was in 1944 by Union Airways' Lockheed 10 Electra flying from Dunedin. When the Government nationalized all airlines in 1947, this was downgraded to a deHavilland Dominie as the new international standards for airports were enforced at the same time. Once the new paved runway was created in the 1950s, Douglas DC-3s began operating. Amphibian Airways started the Stewart Island run in the early 1950s, using Grumman Widgeon ZK-AVM and ZK-BAY, in their distinctive yellow and blue liveries. The amphibians also serviced isolated coastal lighthouses and their settlements. Stewart Island Air Services took over in the late 1970s, and was then taken over by Southern Air in 1981, who still provide the air service to Stewart Island Stewart Island Flights. Mainland Air of Dunedin provide a weekly charter service for the SDHB, transporting doctors from Dunedin-Invercargill return.
The runway was lengthened periodically over the years to cater for larger aircraft in time, such as NAC Fokker F27s, NAC Vickers Viscount, culminating with NAC's Boeing 737-200 type. Other aircraft such as RNZAF Boeing 727-100 and Ansett New Zealand BAe 146s have used the runway with ease.
The passenger terminal facilities have developed around a striking 'Festival of Britain' two-level structure built in 1963, which featured a distinctive lozenge-shaped roof and fully glazed airside walls giving great views of the runway from the upper deck. A ground level outdoor viewing gallery allowed passengers and wellwishers to mingle. (This area has since been closed to all but passengers). This was built against the original small 1950 terminal which was turned into the freight and baggage area. The small control tower in the original structure became a convenient skylight apon the completion of a standard NZCAA five story 'flowerpot' control tower in 1962. A jetway was added by Air New Zealand in 1988 to ease passenger comfort during inclement weather. Although spacious at the time, the terminal is now considered to be too small for the intensive ferquency of services now in use. Free WiFi, Cafe/Bar, ATM, Accommodation/Destination and Rental Car facilities are provided. Air New Zealand's, Koru Lounge is located on the second floor. Plans are in hand to enlarge the lower and upper floor areas.
Regular jet services operated into the airport until 1995, when Air New Zealand restructured all its minor provincial routes after subsidiary Mount Cook Airline introduced the ATR 72-200 into service. Though a smaller aircraft, it allowed a higher frequency of departure choices up to six every weekday including late evenings. The larger-capacity 737s were restricted to three departures a day (including a short morning flight to Dunedin) with the last flight out at 1630hrs. Air New Zealand resisted local pressure of removing the jets convincing Southlanders that the smaller ATR (and later, Q300) aircraft would allow for a higher frequency of service for minimal time difference. When fellow subsidiary Air Nelson joined the Invercargill route with the Q300, this allowed a new direct route to Wellington to open giving Southlanders direct access to the nation's capital. Up to Ten daily departure choices are now avaliable. The Invercargill - Dunedin city hopper service is being re-introduced in 2012 as a link to service the large tertiary communities as well as health services between the two southern cities...Proving Air New Zealand's assumation that 'Small is More'.
Regular types using the airport now are, ATR 72-500, Dash 8 Q-300 and on rare occasions Boeing 733's for heavy peak loads (sports events) or when diverted from Queenstown and/or Dunedin due inclement weather. (Jetstar & NZ A320's do not use IVC as an Alternate due to there not being sufficient baggage container vehicles available)
Before Qantas ceased operations in June 2009, IVC use to pick up a lot of diversions, now a Boeing can be a rare sight other than the odd charter but when they do come in they're a very welcome visitor.
Air New Zealand is the major carrier operating from the airport. Subsidiaries Air Nelson and Mount Cook Airline operate Bombardier Q300 and ATR-72 types, respectively. Air Nelson has a small maintenance base to service Q300 and ATR-72s as up to three aircraft are stabled overnight.
A fully covered baggage carousel was commissioned in 2001.
Air New Zealand and Invercargill Airport Ltd shared the cost of refurbishing the Jetway in 2008; this can be used on all of its fleet from the ATRs to Boeing 767s.
In 2005, the runway was extended to 2,210 m at a cost of NZ$5 million,[1] as of 2011[update] it is the third longest civilian runway in New Zealand, easily handling any aircraft up to Boeing 767-300/Airbus A300-sized aircraft. However there are no turning bays at each end for the longer undercarriage tracks of the larger Boeing 777-200/Airbus A330 wide-bodied types, thus preventing their usage. The runway itself is only 45 meters wide and does not comply to international regulations for the larger four jet engined aircraft. However the positives are that Air New Zealand cut airfares due to the domestic fleet using a more economical take-off run thus saving fuel. Its terminal apron and gates can permanently sustain aircraft no larger than an Airbus A320, although RNZAF C-130, Boeing 757-200 and USAF C17 Globemaster transports are occasional visitors. The apron is marked out as a turn in, turn out but a towing tractor is available for potential push-back operations.
The airport is currently in the process of a $5.5 m facelift; the construction of an arterial road and a covered walkway to the terminal has been completed. The enlargement of the terminal building to provide fully integrated security jet air service standards is planned for 2012. The runway has been resurfaced with a fresh top of asphalt over its older sections due to increased usage.
Although only ever a backup airport during World War II, military operations have remained rare due to Christchurch being chosen as the main Operation Deep Freeze Base in 1949 and what was then Dunedin's Taieri Aerodrome acting as a departure point for shorter range aircraft heading south. The occasional Antarctic flight did land at Invercargill if Taieri was closed. JATO power was needed to assist heavily laden aircraft off the ground.
Today the airport is visited by aircraft of the United States ANG and RNZAF as part of Antarctic flight diversion training.
The largest aircraft to land at Invercargill is the Boeing C-17 Globemaster, although the runway has been "buzzed" by USAF KC-10 Extenders, Lockheed C-141 Starlifters and C-5 Galaxy.
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Air New Zealand operated by Air Nelson | Christchurch, Wellington |
| Air New Zealand operated by Mount Cook Airline | Christchurch, Wellington |
| Air New Zealand operated by Eagle Air | Dunedin (from July 2012) |
| Stewart Island Flights | Oban |
Nav aids
The aerodrome is operated by Invercargill Airport Ltd, +6432140571 and is available for general use without the permission of the operator.