The increasing fuel needs of Wanaka Airport aviators will be met by a $1.1 million investment by Z Energy and earthworks began at the airport this week to install new 50,000-litre underground fuel tanks.
Airport manager Ralph Fegan said one tank would hold kerosene-based A1 jet fuel for turbine-engined aircraft, the other would have high-octane avgas for piston-engined craft.
Excavators were this week removing about 3000cu m of gravel to accommodate the new fuel tanks and bowsers, which would also require an airport apron extension.
''It will be good to have the extra fuel at the airport, particularly in ... a civil defence disaster or something like that happening,'' Mr Fegan said. The additional tanks would also cater for increased aviation activity at the airport.
''In the last couple of years the throughput has obviously increased quite a bit ... there's certainly more aviation happening at Wanaka Airport. There's a lot more aircraft here, it's certainly a lot busier. There's a lot more helicopters going out.''
The tanks would be connected to pipes placed for pressurised underwing refuelling.
The tanks would be commissioned towards the end of June or the first week of July.
