Oamaru Aerodrome
Encyclopedia
Oamaru Aerodrome is an airport located north of Oamaru
, North Otago
, New Zealand
.
After regular scheduled services were withdrawn in 1989 for lack of commercial viability, Oamaru airport saw regular service from Air New Zealand
once again as of early 2006. This came about after the Waitaki District Council decided to reseal the main runway in early 2005. After the resealing, a period of consultation with various airlines came to a successful end when Air New Zealand's subsidiary Eagle Airways
began serving Oamaru from Christchurch again.
When the first Jetstream 32EP, arrived from Christchurch (all flights to Oamaru are operated by Air National on behalf of Eagle Airways) a crowd of approximately 500 people were present to view its landing. The aircraft operating the inaugural service was ZK-ECI, renamed "The Spirit of Waitaki" in honour of the reintroduction of services to Oamaru.
Recent schedules (April 2007) had a morning departure (Mon-Fri), with an evening return flight from Christchurch (Mon-Fri plus Sun). In addition, a late afternoon service to Christchurch operated on Fridays. A morning return flight was introduced on Saturdays.
However, after changes to schedules, and a subsequent drop in passenger numbers, regular commercial flights to Oamaru were again withdrawn in early 2010.
The North Otago Aero Club has been operating from the Oamaru Airport since 1956, and offers flights to Dunedin, Christchurch and Queenstown International Airports. In addition their Air Transport license allows flights to any airport in New Zealand.
The main drawback with the club's service is that the small plane can only take two passengers, however they are the now the only air link between Oamaru and the outside world.
The North Otago Aero Club is involved in flight training also. A student can gain their Private Pilots License, Commercial Pilots License, Flight Instructor Ratings, Mountain Flying Ratings, Aerobatic Flight Ratings and Night flying Ratings.
To supplement the above courses, classes are held to assist the theory side of gaining pilots licenses.
Aircraft Currently residing at Oamaru Airport include, but not limited to:
ZK-EOI Cessna 172 - North Otago Aero Club
ZK-EWC Kitfox IV - Private
ZK-KBL Cessna 182 - Private
ZK-JRY Bantam - Private
ZK-LST Cresco - Wanganui Aero Work
Two B-Cat flight instructors currently work part time from Oamaru Airport as well as one Ag Pilot and four private operators.
Oamaru
Oamaru , the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast, and State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connects it to both...
, North Otago
North Otago
The district of North Otago in New Zealand covers the area of Otago between Shag Point and the Waitaki River, and extends inland to the west as far as the village of Omarama . The large east-coast town of Oamaru serves as North Otago's main centre...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
After regular scheduled services were withdrawn in 1989 for lack of commercial viability, Oamaru airport saw regular service from Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
once again as of early 2006. This came about after the Waitaki District Council decided to reseal the main runway in early 2005. After the resealing, a period of consultation with various airlines came to a successful end when Air New Zealand's subsidiary Eagle Airways
Eagle Airways
Eagle Airways is a regional airline based in Hamilton, New Zealand with ten crew bases from Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands to Blenheim in the Marlborough region. It is wholly owned by Air New Zealand and operates regional services under the Air New Zealand Link brand...
began serving Oamaru from Christchurch again.
When the first Jetstream 32EP, arrived from Christchurch (all flights to Oamaru are operated by Air National on behalf of Eagle Airways) a crowd of approximately 500 people were present to view its landing. The aircraft operating the inaugural service was ZK-ECI, renamed "The Spirit of Waitaki" in honour of the reintroduction of services to Oamaru.
Recent schedules (April 2007) had a morning departure (Mon-Fri), with an evening return flight from Christchurch (Mon-Fri plus Sun). In addition, a late afternoon service to Christchurch operated on Fridays. A morning return flight was introduced on Saturdays.
However, after changes to schedules, and a subsequent drop in passenger numbers, regular commercial flights to Oamaru were again withdrawn in early 2010.
The North Otago Aero Club has been operating from the Oamaru Airport since 1956, and offers flights to Dunedin, Christchurch and Queenstown International Airports. In addition their Air Transport license allows flights to any airport in New Zealand.
The main drawback with the club's service is that the small plane can only take two passengers, however they are the now the only air link between Oamaru and the outside world.
The North Otago Aero Club is involved in flight training also. A student can gain their Private Pilots License, Commercial Pilots License, Flight Instructor Ratings, Mountain Flying Ratings, Aerobatic Flight Ratings and Night flying Ratings.
To supplement the above courses, classes are held to assist the theory side of gaining pilots licenses.
Aircraft Currently residing at Oamaru Airport include, but not limited to:
ZK-EOI Cessna 172 - North Otago Aero Club
ZK-EWC Kitfox IV - Private
ZK-KBL Cessna 182 - Private
ZK-JRY Bantam - Private
ZK-LST Cresco - Wanganui Aero Work
Two B-Cat flight instructors currently work part time from Oamaru Airport as well as one Ag Pilot and four private operators.