Aircraft movements are increasing at several airports. Itinerant pilots are not always prepared for that.
- Movements at Timaru Airport increased from fewer than 6,000 in 2016 to 15,500 last year.
- Oamaru Airport rose from 13,000 in 2021 to more than 42,000 in 2023.
- Whanganui Airport increased from 20,000 movements a year in 2015 to 60,700 in 2024.1
Phil McBride, Manager at Whanganui, says the airport was the seventh busiest in the country in 2023, and pilots must be prepared for unexpected volumes of traffic.
“A pilot who last popped into Whanganui for a suck of gas and a mince pie in 2016 is likely to get quite a shock,” he says.
“We might have four aircraft in the circuit, another four training nearby, and a mixture of regular passenger transport, agricultural, helicopter, and training aircraft.
“We’ve had unprepared itinerant pilots arriving completely unawares and unready for the high number of aircraft in the circuit.
“Some have also attempted to conduct a non-standard procedure.”
Celine Bennison, CFI of South Canterbury Aero Club has had similar experiences with itinerant pilots.
“All our circuits at NZTU are left-hand,” she says.
”One pilot made a call saying they were joining overhead for a runway I was using at the time with a student.
“We looked in the direction we believed the aircraft to be, and they called they were ‘downwind 02, full stop’.
“I then saw that that the pilot had joined a right-hand downwind. We were on the base leg and they were about to turn on the right base.
“I radioed the pilot that our circuit is left-hand, and he vacated and re-joined correctly.
“But lack of preparedness makes such pilots unpredictable,” Celine says. “And because of that, other aerodrome users find it difficult to maintain appropriate separation.”
To illustrate her point, Celine notes that the pilot who tried to join the circuit in the wrong direction didn’t have the aerodrome plate for Timaru.
“I offered him the plate and explained to him how important it is to be prepared.”
Changes at Whitianga
Whitianga aerodrome is also getting busier, says Mercury Bay Aero Club Safety Officer, Steve Chilcott.
“The construction of 48 new hangars, and a new regular air service to Auckland by Barrier Air has significantly increased traffic.
“We have visitors who last flew in 10 years ago, and think they know the airfield, but they’re often completely unaware of how much busier we are.”
In October 2024, the new taxiways Delta, Juliet, Kilo, and Lima opened to deal with the increased number of movements, and the runway has been upgraded for the same reason.
Steve says all the taxiways are clearly marked.
“But it seems difficult to get through to some pilots that we want them to actually use those taxiways!
“It appears that many pilots are not checking for NOTAMs, or checking but ignoring them.
“And we have real concerns about clearance between taxiing and landing aircraft.”
Steve says the aerodrome also gets a number of aircraft incorrectly joining and departing the circuit, which is frustrating because these procedures are “clearly marked on the plate”.2
Be prepared
Celine Bennison says some itinerant pilots simply aren’t prepared, having not studied the AIP plates nor the relevant VNC before their flight.
They will often also be on the incorrect frequency as they join or vacate.
CAA Aviation Safety Advisor and flight examiner Carlton Campbell agrees with Celine.
“Being prepared makes you predictable and appropriate with joining procedures,” he says.
“This helps other pilots’ situational awareness and their ability to avoid the risk of collision, which is one of their prime responsibilities.”
Carlton also says pilots must check NOTAMs.
“They’re your up-to-the-minute guide on any airspace or frequency changes, such as in emergencies.”
Carlton says it’s also worth monitoring FISCOM to keep updated on any NOTAM issued during flight.
“Accessing these before or after departure can save an embarrassing – or worse – outcome.”
And check out
The Vector article “Save yourself the embarrassment – or worse” about checking NOTAMs, in the upcoming issue of the magazine, out in the first two weeks of March, 2025.
You'll find it at Latest issue of Vector.
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Footnotes
1 Pilots can view movement numbers around the country on our Occurrence and activity dashboard.
2 A full description of changes at Whitianga airfield can be found at mbac.co.nz/airfield(external link)
Photo of Whanganui Airport courtesy of Phil McBride.