New rules for pilots at airshow

Pilots flying aircraft into Wanaka Airport for the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow have been advised by the Civil Aviation Authority to prepare for procedural changes to prevent their trips becoming a "nightmare".

The CAA has produced a supplement for pilots, which specifically outlines a range of temporary flight procedures being put in place to manage the expected surge in aircraft activity at Wanaka Airport during the popular event.

While attending the Easter airshow can be an "aviator's dream come true", the CAA's industry publication Vector has warned pilots "the trip could become a nightmare ... if you attempt to fly in without doing your homework".

CAA senior communications adviser Emma Peel said a "pro-active approach" was always taken to highlight the need for planning before major airshows.

Warbirds was a "well-managed event" which had all the required permits and correct procedures in place, she said.

Several changes to flight procedures are being implemented at Wanaka Airport during the Easter airshow.

These range from temporary airspace changes, arrival and departure procedures and time slots, fuel requirements and availability, as well as flight planning and briefing services and emergency procedures.

Warbirds Over Wanaka event manager Mandy Deans said more than 60 aircraft, including several from the RNZAF, would be on the flight plan for the airshow.

While final tallies were still being conducted, she expected up to 65 pilots would be involved in flying aircraft during the airshow.

Many more private aircraft and their owners were also expected to fly into Wanaka Airport, she said.

"Some owners fly in to the airport and some are involved in the airshow. We have a lot of pilots, who fly their aircraft to attend the event," she said.

About 200 parking spaces are available at the airport to cater for the expected influx of aeroplanes and helicopters, she said.

Pilots were required to notify Airways NZ traffic controllers of their flight intentions before they "turned up", Ms Deans said.

Planning was an integral part of Warbirds and pilots were well-used to being prepared for the airshow, she said.

"Friday is a particularly busy day for us. There are several holding points for aircraft . . . Wind can be an issue sometimes, but they usually just complete circles, before coming in to land," Ms Deans said.

The CAA is advising pilots to expect "mechanical turbulence in strong westerly winds" and to be alert for "wind shear" when the prevailing wind is southwesterly.

A "temporary restricted area" and a "coincident control zone" will be in place to cover all airspace within a radius of 5 nautical miles of Wanaka Airport, from the surface to 7500 feet above mean sea level.