Oamaru Airport
| Oamaru Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| IATA: OAM – ICAO: NZOU | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | Waitaki District Council | ||
| Operator | New Zealand CAA | ||
| Location | Oamaru | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 99 ft / 30 m | ||
| Coordinates | 44°58′12″S 171°04′54″E / 44.97000°S 171.08167°ECoordinates: 44°58′12″S 171°04′54″E / 44.97000°S 171.08167°E | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 18/36 | 4,210 | 1,283 | Asphalt |
| 11/29 | 3,107 | 947 | Grass |
| 02/20 | 2,775 | 846 | Grass |
Oamaru Airport (ICAO: NZOU) is an airport located 20 km north of Oamaru just alongside of state highway 1, at Pururi in the North Otago region and the Waitaki District of New Zealand.
History
On 10 December 1960 Airlines of New Zealand commenced a 32 seater DC-3 service with viewmaster windows linking Oamaru north to Timaru and Christchurch and south to Alexandra and Invercargill. Later a stop in Gore was added. These flights ended in 28 February 1966. Later that day Mount Cook Airlines took over also using DC-3 aircraft serving to Timaru and Christchurch.[1]
The first HS748 to arrive in NZ was ZK-CWJ it first flight was from Christchurch to Timaru and onto Oamaru on the 25th of October 1968. The Mount Cook Airlines service to Oamaru ended without mention in the Oamaru Mail on the morning of the 6th of June 1972 when the Mount Cook Airlines DC-3 departed Oamaru for Timaru and Christchurch. [2] From the 7th of June 1972 NAC began operating DC-3 flights to Oamaru. The new sealed runway at the Oamaru Airport was passed as fully operational on the 7th of March 1975. NAC commenced scheduled Fokker F-27 Friendship services to Oamaru on the 10th of March 1975. The first flight from Wellington and Timaru arrived at 2.15pm [3]
After regular scheduled services were withdrawn in 1990 for lack of commercial viability, Oamaru airport saw regular service from Air New Zealand once again as of early 2006. This came about after the Waitaki District Council decided to reseal the main runway in early 2005. After the resealing, a period of consultation with various airlines came to a successful end when Air New Zealand's subsidiary Eagle Airways began serving Oamaru from Christchurch again.[4]
When the first Jetstream 32EP, arrived from Christchurch (all flights to Oamaru were operated by Air National on behalf of Eagle Airways) a crowd of approximately 500 people were present to view its landing. The aircraft operating the inaugural service was ZK-ECI, renamed "The Spirit of Waitaki" in honour of the reintroduction of services to Oamaru.[5]
Recent schedules (April 2007) had a morning departure (Mon-Fri), with an evening return flight from Christchurch (Mon-Fri plus Sun). In addition, a late afternoon service to Christchurch operated on Fridays. A morning return flight was introduced on Saturdays.
However, after changes to schedules, and a subsequent drop in passenger numbers, regular commercial flights to Oamaru were again withdrawn in early 2010.
Aero Club
The North Otago Aero Club has been operating from the Oamaru Airport since 1956, and offers charter flights to Dunedin, Christchurch and Queenstown International Airports. In addition their Air Transport license allows flights to any airport in New Zealand.
The main drawback with the club's service is that the small plane can only take two passengers, however they are the now the only air link from Oamaru.
The North Otago Aero Club is involved in flight training also trading under the name Waitaki Flight School. A student can gain their Private Pilots License, Commercial Pilots License, Flight Instructor Ratings, Mountain Flying Ratings, Aerobatic Flight Ratings and Night flying Ratings.
To supplement the above courses, classes are held to assist the theory side of gaining pilots licenses.
Events held at the airport range from open days to the annual Air Training Corp Aviation Camp.
Aircraft Currently residing at Oamaru Airport include, but not limited to:
ZK-EOI Cessna 172 - North Otago Aero Club
ZK-KBL Cessna 182 - Private
ZK-LTS Cresco - Wanganui Aero Work
ZK-BYJ Cessna 180 - Private
ZK-DEJ Piper Cherokee PA-140
Two B-Cat flight instructors currently work on call 7 days a week from Oamaru Airport as well as one Ag Pilot and some private operators.
Mainland Air were to have begun twice daily flights to Christchurch in January 2013 however this service never commenced. .[6]
Timeline of services
The town has been through a lot of hurdles to gain then lose its air service forcing residents to either travel south to Dunedin or north to Timaru to catch a flight.[7]
- 1 April 1990: Air New Zealand ends Friendship flights to Oamaru which began in 1975. Flights were to Wellington via Timaru.
- 23 April 1990: Air Nelson takes over flights with Metroliner.
- 28 October 1991: Air Nelson ends flights and Oamaru loses service.
- 1991-2006: Various options explored to reinstate air service.
- 2005-2006: Waitaki District Council spends about $500,000 upgrading runway, terminal building and other facilities.
- 2006: Waitaki Mayor Alan McLay starts negotiating for new air service.
- 20 June 2006: Eagle Air announces new Oamaru-Christchurch Beech 1900 service.
- 7 August 2006: First flight lands at Oamaru to be greeted by about 120 people.
- 18 May 2009: Eagle Air changes schedule amid fears service in trouble.
- 13 October 2009: Eagle Air announces service will end from 1 January 2010.
See also
References
- ↑ http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/oamarus-1960-christmas-present-spanzs.html
- ↑ http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/mount-cook-airlines-operating-to-oamaru.html
- ↑ http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/go-friendship-way-oamaru-nacs-last.html
- ↑ "Press Release: Oamaru Airport Ready for Business". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008.
- ↑ Oamaru back on the flight radar Archived video footage accompanying news item by TVNZ, 6 August 2006, TV ONE New Zealand
- ↑ Passenger flights take off in January
- ↑ http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/north-otago/77961/hopes-remain-despite-airline-ending-service?page=0%2C1
Notes
- NZ AIP Volume 3 or 4, NZOU AD 2
