Runway Works Commence in Hamilton

[mfraser]

Wednesday 22 April 2009 was a 'milestone day' for Hamilton Airport. I had the privilege of clearing the last Air NZ international flight for takeoff, which effectively ends NZHN's status as the Waikato's gateway for international air travel. However, like most things in life, as one door closes another opens, as ground was struck - heralding construction of a parallel sealed runway and light aircraft taxiway over what used to be Grass 18/36! In four months time NZHN is set to become NZ's first airfield which will conduct regular air traffic movements from parallel sealed runways.

And before you all burst into print - YES - NZAA does have an existing parallel runway - but that is only ever used as a taxiway. And YES - they are constructing the northern parallel runway - however that is due to be completed well after NZHN's runway (Sometime in 2011). NZOH sometimes uses its parallel TAXIWAY as a pseudo-runway for the CT4's. But in reality, NZHN will be the first airfield in NZ to conduct parallel operations between light aircraft (2300kg or below - ie: Light twins and less) from parallel sealed runways.

I'll keep snapping away over the next four months as work continues. Personally I can't wait until construction is complete. Not because I want to use the runway, but because while work continues we only have one runway to use!! Not an easy thing when you're working at the 2nd busiest airfield in NZ!!

[Ian Warren]

Oh Well back to Autogen

[AlisterC]

Interesting, didn't know that, thanks for posting

[creator2003]

Cool thanks matt ,ill be adding this aswell then to HamiltonX

[mfraser]

Yup - I'm in the Tower today so will take some more photo's and I'll also PM the runway dimensions once they've "set it in concrete". The works kind of took everyone by surprise. The airport company had been talking about sealing the grass for well over a year because of the increased traffic movements and the damage it was causing to the grass vectors. Then all of a sudden they announced it was starting and away they went!!

[TimG]

Yes, it certainly makes things busier. I was once in a queue of about 7 aircraft waiting to take off with more in the circuit! It will be good when it is finished though. At the moment it would definitely make life harder for you controllers!

[deeknow]

Great stuff, very exciting for Hamiltron, havent noticed anything in The Times about it tho? You'd think there would be given its a good-news story for once. You better get your reporters credentials sorted out Matt

[Goose]

QUOTE (mfraser @ May 1 2009, 09:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yup - I'm in the Tower today so will take some more photo's and I'll also PM the runway dimensions once they've "set it in concrete". The works kind of took everyone by surprise. The airport company had been talking about sealing the grass for well over a year because of the increased traffic movements and the damage it was causing to the grass vectors. Then all of a sudden they announced it was starting and away they went!!

I didn't know anyone in here worked at hamilton tower. I came in there today, dropped off two instructors at the terminal at bout half nine, were you working then? i was in ELX

[mfraser]

QUOTE (Goose @ May 1 2009, 08:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I didn't know anyone in here worked at hamilton tower. I came in there today, dropped off two instructors at the terminal at bout half nine, were you working then? i was in ELX

Nope - I started at 1pm this afternoon. You probably spoke to David - our newest controller who passed his rating today (Incidentally he's also a VatSim controller)!! And I have to say I really sympathise with pilots operating in and out of NZHN at the moment - its chaos for everybody with the runway works going on. As ATC we're doing our best but it's not easy......... and we've still got at least 3 and a half months to go!!

Anyway - the new runway will be 645m long and 10m wide, serviced by a parallel sealed taxiway 6m wide. Photo's from today show the runway which has been dug up about half its length to 3 feet deep.

[Ian Warren]

Great photos Matt , it gives me some insight and direction with the trees and foliage

[jastheace]

what happend to the air bridge, did it get ripped out after international services were pulled??? my first and only airbridge that i drove. infact i don't reconize the airside from when i was there

[ardypilot]

Interesting post Matt - I'll sure to follow this one and look forward to seeing future developments!

[mfraser]

QUOTE (jastheace @ May 5 2009, 08:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

what happend to the air bridge, did it get ripped out after international services were pulled??? my first and only airbridge that i drove. infact i don't reconize the airside from when i was there

The air bridge was removed about 5 years ago - they decided it was too costly to maintain and was under-utilised. Airside was revamped last year following the completion of the new terminal. The old Origin/Qantas hangar is now occupied by the baggage handlers and refuellers. The new tarmac to the right in that photo is a new baggage and cargo trailer storage area to cope with the errrrm, international air service aircraft.

QUOTE (Trolly @ May 5 2009, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting post Matt - I'll sure to follow this one and look forward to seeing future developments!

There may be a delay in future progress photo's - the works team just ripped up the airfield light cables causing $20,000 worth of damage!! Works have slowed while they repair the cables and point fingers at each other!!

[jastheace]

thanks for the update, it was 2000 that i worked there, so alot has changed, that old airbridge was a hard beast to master, very twitchy. i will keep an eye on this thread

thanks

Jason

[mfraser]

A photo taken just yesterday. There hasn't been much to report the last few weeks. After digging and leveling the runway and taxiway, the workmen laid coarse sand and lime and are now in the process of laying and compacting a layer of gravel. Once this is completed it will all be sealed. The ETA of completion is at the end of this month - although I have been told that there will still be some work to be done around the site to 'rehabilitate' the grass areas that have been damaged during the works.

Some 'interesting' facts about the new runway. While the majority of the soon to be 18R/36L is tarseal, it is still technically a grass runway!! ICAO rules state that if any portion of a runway is grassed then it must be referred to as such! The runway will have threshold and designator markings on the 18 end only, as the 36 end will have about 45m of grass before it turns into the tarseal portion!

[Goose]

QUOTE (mfraser @ Jun 16 2009, 07:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Some 'interesting' facts about the new runway. While the majority of the soon to be 18R/36L is tarseal, it is still technically a grass runway!! ICAO rules state that if any portion of a runway is grassed then it must be referred to as such! The runway will have threshold and designator markings on the 18 end only, as the 36 end will have about 45m of grass before it turns into the tarseal portion!

Why are they leaving 45 metres of it grass? why not make the whole thing tarseal? was gonna come visit you guys today in the tron, but the weather turned out to be cr@p. Maybe tomorrow tho, if mike alfa tango comes thru it'll be me cos i have the plane pretty much all day

[twinstarda42]

QUOTE (Goose @ Jun 16 2009, 09:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why are they leaving 45 metres of it grass? why not make the whole thing tarseal? was gonna come visit you guys today in the tron, but the weather turned out to be cr@p. Maybe tomorrow tho, if mike alfa tango comes thru it'll be me cos i have the plane pretty much all day

their is a PDF Located here of the airports plans in rgards to runway extensions pending planning approvals - graphic located on page 2 of the proposed runways extension, new taxyways etc
http://www.hamiltonairport.co.nz/file/down...plan-change.pdf

[HardCorePawn]

EDIT: Actually I've got my runway directions all arse about face...

I see they're planning on realigning the cross vectors....

But why skimp on 45m of seal??? seems a bit odd...

[mfraser]

Finally - after delays from weather and engineering issues, sealing has begun on the parallel runway. The sealing will be completed in the next few days, after which the runway markings will be applied and the surrounding grass areas repaired. All works are due to be finished within the next 2-3 weeks, with the official opening to be announced sometime in August.

[HardCorePawn]

QUOTE (mfraser @ Jul 14 2009, 08:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

One of these craft is trying to take-off/land in the wrong direction!!! And judging by the way the steam appears to be moving... I'd say it isn't the Katana!