The council attributed the increase in traffic to the flight school based at the site, The New Zealand Airline Academy, which has gained more students and aircraft over recent years.
Last year there were 42,690 aircraft movements at the site, which includes landings, take-offs, touch and go’s, and go-arounds.
In 2022 there were 17,120 movements and in 2021 only 13,104.
Following the increase in movements, the Civil Aviation Authority has now instructed the council to carry out an aeronautical study of the airport.
Council property manager Grant Rhodes said the study would advise if the levels of operational safety and procedures were suitably applicable.
The Aviation Authority requested the study be presented to them in June.
What triggered the need for a safety study varied, but could include the number of movements, the type of operations, the types of aircraft using the airport, the management structure and the operations at neighbouring airports, Mr Rhodes said.
The council installed a discrete frequency zone at the airport, which changed the radio frequency to one only used by aircraft at the site.
Previously, the airport used the 119.1 frequency, which was shared by neighbouring aerodromes and passing aircraft.
Now any aircraft within a 10-nautical-mile radius of the airport used the discrete frequency, which reduced radio congestion and improved safety.
The study would cost the council $14,000 before GST, he said.
Changing the frequency took about 15 hours of officer time.
