The noise from an increasing number of light commercial aircraft flights has prompted the Wanaka Residents Association to call for more controls over where they can fly.
President Roger Gardiner told the Otago Daily Times on Friday he would like to see a ban on light aircraft flying over the town.
He believed the increase in flights was driven by increased tourist numbers "and as those numbers grow, increasingly the peace and quiet of the Wanaka town is going to be destroyed by the whine of these aircraft as they climb".
"Current commercial operators at the airport are not doing themselves any favours by disrupting the quiet enjoyment that should be afforded to local property owners."
Mr Gardiner said a resident of Kings Dr, in central Wanaka, had counted 55 aircraft movements in his vicinity in one day.
"It’s just extraordinary the number of light aircraft that are climbing out over the town and across the face of Mt Roy."
He believed most of the problem was caused by commercial operators, while private recreational pilots recognised the need to "stay away from the town" because they did not want to "rattle the townspeople".
U-Fly owner Kylie Krippner said she was well aware of Wanaka residents’ concerns about noise and she made every effort to avoid the town and keep noise to a minimum.
The company operated two "movements" per hour from Wanaka Airport "which is hardly excessive", she said.
"We go right around the town; we don’t fly over the town.
"U-Fly has been around for 16 years and we are flying the same route we have always flown.
"The town’s growing out and expanding in all directions but we fly south of Mt Aspiring Rd, right up against the hills, so from the air we are not flying over the town at all."
Because of the "ongoing interest" in aircraft movements in the last year, the company was flying higher than it was a year ago and ensured aircraft had completed climbing before nearing the town.
Ms Krippner said her customers wanted to see the lake, glaciers and mountains.
"They are not wanting to fly out to Tarras or up to the Lindis.
"They want to see the lake; they always have."
Ms Krippner said the company and other Wanaka Airport users had tried other routes.
"But it’s funnelling us into a very narrow area; it’s not safe."
