Blessing Kicks Off New Runway For Auckland Airport
Blessing Kicks Off New Runway For Auckland Airport
A whakawaatea (blessing) ceremony by tangatawhenua marked the start of construction on Auckland Airport's new $32 million northern runway today. Invited guests, staff and tangatawhenua gathered on the site off Ihumatao Rd in Mangere to celebrate this significant event in the airport's history.
Tangatawhenua, Minister of Transport, Hon Annette King, Manukau City Mayor, Sir Barry Curtis and Auckland Airport Chairman, John Maasland broke the ground at the site in a symbolic gesture marking the works'commencement.
Located north of and parallel to the existing runway the new runway will be developed in stages eventually to be 2150 metres long as provided under the Manukau District Plan. Stage one of the northern runway is expected to be operational early in 2011 in time for the Rugby World Cup. It will be 1200 metres in length.
"The new runway will create a vibrant hub for domestic airlines and make a significant contribution to tourism and freight growth." said Auckland Airport Chairman, John Maasland.
"Auckland Airport plays a significant role in the domestic and national economies generating and facilitating some $19 billion worth of value added in the New Zealand economy. It directly or indirectly sustains employment equivalent to 283,000 full time workers annually.
"The new northern runway will provide much needed infrastructure to help sustain projected passenger and freight growth." He said. Hon Annette King says "the value of Auckland International Airport to the Auckland region and to New Zealand as a whole should never be underestimated. The airport's performance as the nation's welcome mat is vital to our country's economic success".
The northern runway will initially accommodate general aviation and small, non-jet aircraft. This will free up the capacity of the existing main southern runway. Shifting smaller, slower aircraft operations to the northern runway will enable better use of existing runway and aprons by larger aircraft. The smaller aircraft provide important links to New Zealand's provincial cities, regional towns and communities.
The need for the new runway was anticipated when the airport location was chosen in 1968. It has been provided for in the Manukau District Plan since the mid-70s and in December 2006 Auckland Airport obtained resource consent to construct the runway at the previously designated site. The runway is also part of Auckland Airport's Masterplan 2025 - the company's development strategy for the future.
ENDS
Background Information
Northern Runway - Auckland Airport
Introduction
Construction is underway on Auckland Airport's new runway. Located north of the existing runway, it will be an important part of future development. Ultimately it will create a vibrant hub for domestic airlines and make a significant contribution to tourism and freight growth. The first stage of the runway to be completed by 2010/11 will cost $32 million.
Background
Auckland Airport's Masterplan 2025 is the airport's development strategy for the future. It builds on the comprehensive planning carried out in the past and uses the latest data and forecasting to determine where the airport is heading in the next 20 years... and beyond.
An additional runway is included in the masterplan and has been provided for in the Manukau District Plan since the mid-1970s. Auckland Airport has consulted widely with community groups on its planned construction of the northern runway.
In December 2001, after three years of mediated discussions the Environment Court re-affirmed consent for Auckland Airport's northern runway to be built. As part of the mediation process, Auckland Airport made several concessions including reducing the length of the previously approved runway. It was also agreed that the runway would be built in two stages or more. Auckland Airport will undertake public consultation before embarking on the subsequent stages.
Why is a second runway being built?
In the mid-1990s, it became clear that an additional runway would be needed early in the next millennium. The increasing number and increasingly the different types of aircraft using the existing runway has created this need.
Air traffic at Auckland Airport is characterised by two distinct types: large-capacity aircraft such as Boeing 747s and B777s and at the end of the spectrum, relatively small, slow aircraft. The combination of large, wide-bodied jets and high numbers of small, slow aircraft creates a unique and demanding set of operational parameters. The number of landings that can be accommodated on any runway in a given hour depends partly on the spacing between aircraft movements. The spacing is necessary, not only to eliminate the risk of collisions, but also to avoid an aircraft being endangered by the turbulent air currents (wake vortices) created by the aircraft in front of it.
It is expected that both international and domestic airlines through Auckland Airport will continue to operate using this same mix of aircraft types for the foreseeable future. Development planning has had to recognise and accommodate these conditions.
The second runway will be north of and parallel to the existing main runway. It is being developed in stages ultimately to be 2150 metres long as provided under the Manukau District Plan. Stage 1 of the northern runway is expected to be operational late 2010 or early 2011, in time for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. It will be 1,200 metres in length at that time
Who will use it?
The northern runway will initially accommodate general aviation and small, non-jet aircraft. Importantly this will free up capacity of the existing main southern runway. Its location provides 1950 metres of separation between runways, allowing simultaneous operations in due course in all weather conditions.
Shifting smaller, slower, aircraft operations to the northern runway will enable better use of the existing runway and aprons by larger aircraft. The smaller aircraft provide links to New Zealand's provincial cities, regional towns and communities.
What does it mean for the future?
The northern runway will be upgraded for domestic jet operations in time to support migration of the current domestic terminal to the north of the existing international terminal. The ultimate development of the northern runway will be suitable for the operation of most aircraft types. The available runway length though will limit some long-haul international aircraft using it. In the normal course such aircraft will use the longer 3,656 metre main runway. When fully developed, the northern runway will support full domestic airline services and international services to Australia, the South Pacific and beyond.
24 million passengers per annum are forecast by 2025. A new domestic passenger terminal, aprons and gates located immediately north of the present international terminal will be developed.
The eventual dual runways will have both runways and new taxiways being jet capable. A new control tower will be built to service the parallel runway system. There will be enhanced apron and terminal facilities for both runways and a cross taxiway system to link the two runways.
How will it be constructed?
Master grading and geotechnical assessments of ground conditions has been undertaken. Then, after detailed design has been completed the land will be cleared and earthworks begin. The land is levelled to create a runway platform. Drainage work is done and utilities are installed. Paving work for the runway, taxiways and apron areas involves the laying of basecourse then surfacing with chip seal or asphaltic concrete.
A terminal building and car park will be constructed. Aeronautical navigation aids, security fencing and CCTV will be installed.
Timing of project/Timeline
4 October 2007 - Blessing and ground breaking December 2007 - Main earthworks start December 2010 - Completion of Stage 1 - 1,200 metres January 2011 - Stage 1 commissioned February 2011 - Stage 1 operational
Environmental management
Auckland Airport works with airlines, air traffic control and local authorities to keep the effects of aircraft noise on local communities within set limits. These initiatives benefit the local community. They reduce the impact of the airport operation on those living and working nearby.
Auckland Airport provides funding for the Auckland Airport Community Trust, which is funding literacy programmes in the community surrounding the airport. Auckland Airport also has a Noise Mitigation Programme which offers acoustic treatment packages to existing homes and schools located in 'high' and 'moderate' aircraft noise areas. These are predominantly under the flight path to the existing runway. Importantly these initiatives will also apply to the new northern runway.
Fast facts
The new northern runway will include:
* A code 2B chipseal runway 1,200 meters long and 23 meters wide (e.g. suitable for a Beechcraft 1900D 19 seater aircraft) * Sealed North-South Code B taxiway * Minimum pavement depth of 0.5 metres * 1600 metres by 150 metres earthworks platform * An access road off Ihumatao Road * Clearing 44 hectares of land * Removal of 120,000 cubic metres of topsoil * 600,000 cubic metres of earthworks * 88 manholes * Seven kilometres of drainage pipes * 48,000 square metres of pavement for the runway, taxiway and apron * 6.5 kilometres of perimeter fencing * 70 runway end and edge lights * Two windsocks * 650 square metre terminal building * 80 car parks * Aviation fuel storage tanks
Conclusion
Auckland Airport is pivotal to New Zealand's tourism industry and export economy. It has come a very long way in the 40 years since it began operations and there is still a long way to go. The next 20 years and beyond will be a period of strong, sustainable, well-planned growth for the airport. This will benefit both the Auckland region and the wider New Zealand economy. The northern runway is a critically important part of Auckland Airport's development strategy for the future.
To find out more about Auckland Airport's Masterplan 2025 and the northern runway visit www.auckland-airport.co.nz.
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