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Palmerston North Airport

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Palmerston North Airport
Air traffic control tower for PMR/NZPM
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerPalmerston North City Council
OperatorPalmerston North Airport
LocationPalmerston North
Elevation AMSL151 ft / 46 m
Coordinates40°19′14″S 175°37′01″E / 40.32056°S 175.61694°E / -40.32056; 175.61694
Websitewww.pnairport.co.nz
Map
PMR is located in North Island
PMR
PMR
Location of airport in North Island
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
07L/25R 6,240 1,902 Asphalt
07R/25L 1,995 608 Grass
Statistics
Passengers (30 June 2018)652,000[1]
Movements55,960
Source:[2]
Palmerston North Airport Terminal Building, June 2015
Air New Zealand Link Beechcraft 1900 at Palmerston North Airport.
Air New Zealand Link ATR72-500 at Palmerston North Airport
Gulfstream G650 VP-CJR visiting the small regional airport late 2016

Palmerston North Airport (IATA: PMR, ICAO: NZPM), originally called Milson Aerodrome, is an airport in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand, serving Palmerston North City and the Central North Island regions. It is located in the suburb of Milson, on the outskirts of Palmerston North, New Zealand, approximately 5.5 km (3.4ml) NE from the central business district of Palmerston North City. The airport is 100% owned by the Palmerston North City Council and covers an area of 208ha.[3] The airport is New Zealand’s 8th busiest and handled a total of 515,727 in the 2016 financial year. The airport handles around 30 commercial passenger flights per day to and from Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Nelson and Wellington as well as 2 cargo flights each night between Auckland and Christchurch.

The airport operates two runways, a sealed 1902m runway and a parallel grass 608m runway, which is utilised for general aviation and training activities by Massey University’s School of Aviation, Helipro and Eagle Aviation.[4] Operating 24/7 with no curfews imposed, the airport has become a freight hub for Parcelair.[5]

Common aircraft operating in Palmerston North Airport are ATR72, Bombardier Q300, Boeing 737-400F and Jetstream 31. Diamond DA40 and DA42 training aircraft used by Massey University’s School of Aviation are also commonly seen in the airport.[6] In addition to the normal aircraft types, the airport is able to cater for Airbus A320 aircraft. The airport accommodates charters including business jets through to the larger Airbus A320 aircraft. The airport receives some diverted flights from Wellington due to adverse weather conditions there.[7] The airport has an excellent operational preference, opening majority of the time.[8]

History

The first airfield on this site was created by the Milson Aerodrome Society in 1931, comprising a grass runway. It was used exclusively for private flights. The first commercial flights began in 1936, operated by Union Airways. During World War II the airport was also used as a military facility. When the National Airways Corporation commenced service to the airport in the 1950s the runway was sealed and a terminal building was constructed; jets started to serve the airport domestically operated by Air New Zealand in 1975, beginning with Boeing 737-200s.

A new terminal was constructed in 1992 and a new taxiway was built in 1994. Following the major upgrades of the airport, Freedom Air started regular international flights to Brisbane and Sydney in 1996. Other destinations including Gold Coast, Melbourne and Nadi were added in 1999.[9]

A Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 767-200 landed at the airport on 10 March 2003 due to diversion, making it the first and only 767 to land at the airport. Since Freedom Air ceased operations in 2008 and Oz jet pulling out of a contract before any flights began, no carrier has served the airport with scheduled international flights.

In 2014, the airport released its Master plan for 2014-2035. Some proposed ideas include further lengthening the runway, a new taxiway parallel to the runway and an Instrument landing system.[10]

In 2016 due to an increase in need for overnight mail, Air Freight NZ upgraded its fleet from Convair 580s to 737-400s with a much larger payload and speed operating between Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch while changing their name to Parcelair.

In 2018 Palmerston North Airport contracted Higgins to start constructing taxiway Charlie.[citation needed]

World record

On 17 May 1998, ten people towed a fully fuelled Freedom Air Boeing 737-300 over 100 metres in 47 seconds, to celebrate the opening of the new runway extensions. The record was logged in the Guinness World Records.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air New Zealand Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Wellington
Jetstar Airways[11] Auckland[12]
Originair Napier,[13] Nelson[14]

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Parcelair
operated by Airwork 		Auckland, Christchurch

Incidents

See also

References

  1. ^ "Palmerston North Airport's rapid growth in travellers". Manuwatu Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Terminal reclaims international space". Stuff.
  3. ^ "Palmerston North Airport Fast Facts". Palmerston North Airport. 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  4. ^ "MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING" (PDF). Palmerston North Airport. 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  5. ^ "About us". Fieldair- Aircraft Engineering. 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  6. ^ "About the school of Education". Massey University. 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  7. ^ "How windy is Wellington, really?". Stuff.co.nzt. 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  8. ^ Another reason to choose Palmerston North Airport (Video). 3 News New Zealand. 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Palmerston North Airport History". Palmerston North Airport. 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Master Plan 2014 - 2035" (PDF). Palmerston North Airport Limited. 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Jetstar Group Fleet". Jetstar. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Jetstar's new routes: Nelson, Napier, New Plymouth and Palmerston North make the cut". Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Airline to launch direct flights between Napier, New Plymouth and Palmerston North". Stuff.co.nz. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  14. ^ "News – Originair". originair.co.nz.
  15. ^ "Occurrence Report Details – Investigation 95-011". Transport Accident Investigation Commission. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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