Queenstown Airport Safety

[happytraveller]

I picked up this story in the NZ Herald about safety incidents at Queenstown Airport. It makes very worrying reading. In the report it states that there were 115 incidents in the year up to August, and some of them very serious. Surely questions have to be raised now about safety at Queenstown airport, and also how poor the CAA seem to be at improving and maintaining safety. The fact that there have been 115 incidents in a 12 month period points to a problem, and also indicates to me that the people at the CAA responsible for enforcing and improving safety are not doing their jobs. Worrying reading this report:-

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/air-accidents/ne...jectid=10676095

From the list of incidents, it looks like there are problems in many areas, things like aircraft approaching head on and passing very near each other are serious.

Smooth landings (and controlled, safe flight).

[IslandBoy77]

So of the 115, 63 are potentially 'problematic' in terms of air traffic control issues. I think hats-off to the controllers at Queenstown having to operate 'blind' in an extremely busy environment. I doubt there are any airports elsewhere in the country that have the same mix of tourists, thrill-seekers, hunters, commercial flights AND no radar coverage in a mountainous area (with Milford being the possible exception, but much lower volume?). It's great that they've got that new system in - does anyone here know anyone working at Queenstown ATC? Any anecdotal evidence as to how well the new system is panning out?

[happytraveller]

Have a look at this NZ Herald article too:-

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article....jectid=10631935

smooth landings.

[Ian Warren]

Arr me brother up to his old tricks again * An Air New Zealand aircraft on approach via Arrowtown comes within 250m of a hang glider.

[hoki1185]

Not to mention 2 ATC controllers falling out and being unable to work with each other.

[cowpatz]

I am not a Controller but I can tell you the system is working well. Of course an aircraft must be transponder equipped to be "seen" however paraponts and hang-gliders are not.
The very nature of the terrain there is always going to pose challenges that other airfields dont have.
Of more concern at Queenstown is the lack of RESA (Runway end safety areas). In fact the airport company made things worse by placing a mound of earth at one end.
If there is an under shoot or overrun then the risk of injury or death is significantly increased. A 146 had a major overrun there a few years back. The outcome may well have been different had that mound be there.
The lack of RESA's is one of the reasons why IFALPA (International Federation Of Airline Pilots) has given it a black listing. The side clearances are also well below standard.
Seems incredulous that an airfield that can be subject to snow and ice and the effect that this can have on runway operations and yet it does not have the required standard of over run protection.