West Auckland Airport
Encyclopedia
West Auckland Airport Parakai West Auckland Airport is a general aviation
(GA) airfield on the North Western edge of Auckland
, New Zealand
, within the Auckland City Local body area. It is close to the town of Parakai
and 2 nautical miles (3.8 km) northwest of Helensville at the southern end of the Kaipara Harbour
.
) during the 1960s. Starting with a grass surface, the runway was realigned and built up with limestone during the 1980s to make it usable all year round, and the surface gradually improved. Services provided: Flight training by various clubs and flying schools, taking students up to Commercial Pilot Licence
(CPL) level. Commercial flights to Great Barrier Island
. Private aircraft hangarage. Intensive Skydiving operations built up from 1986 and in 2003 the NZ Skydiving Championship was held at the airfield. The facility was renamed as West Auckland Airport in 2011.
Parakai Flying School provides training from ab initio
through to Commercial Pilot Licence
(CPL) level in Cessna aircraft, and from ab initio
to the Microlight
Advanced National Pilot Certificate in Tecnam aircraft. The airport is base for Leading Edge Aviation Ltd aircraft engineers (the only Southern Hemisphere repack Station for BRS Ballistic parachutes), Aerial Imagery aerial photographers, Blue Sky Skydivers, and three flying clubs: The Parakai Aviation Club, Northland Microlight Club, and is the northern base for the Auckland Regional Microlight Aircraft Club (ARMAC). Most Fixed Base Operator
(FBO) services are available including fuel Avgas
and Mogas. Hangarage for private aircraft is provided in privately owned and FBO hangars. Space is available for building of private hangars.
The airport is uncontrolled with mandatory radio calls on 119.1 within 10 nm of the airfield or when using the Parakai Low Flying area.
By road West Auckland Airport is 37 minutes from the Auckland CDB and 30 minutes from Silverdale.
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
(GA) airfield on the North Western edge of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, 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...
, within the Auckland City Local body area. It is close to the town of Parakai
Parakai
Parakai is a township in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited 43 kilometres northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour...
and 2 nautical miles (3.8 km) northwest of Helensville at the southern end of the Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour is a large enclosed harbour estuary complex on the north western side of the North Island of New Zealand. The northern part of the harbour is administered by the Kaipara District and the southern part is administered by the Rodney District...
.
History
The Helensville Aero Club operated from Helensville Airfield from the 1940s, moving to Parakai and renaming the airfield as Parakai Airfield (Parakai AerodromeParakai Aerodrome
West Auckland Airport Parakai The facility previously known as Parakai Airfield was renamed as West Auckland Airport in 2011.-External links:*...
) during the 1960s. Starting with a grass surface, the runway was realigned and built up with limestone during the 1980s to make it usable all year round, and the surface gradually improved. Services provided: Flight training by various clubs and flying schools, taking students up to Commercial Pilot Licence
Commercial Pilot Licence
A Commercial Pilot License or, in the United States, a Commercial Pilot Certificate, is a qualification that permits the holder to act as the Pilot In Command of a single pilot aircraft, or as co-pilot of a multi-pilot aircraft and be paid for his/her work.The basic requirements to obtain the...
(CPL) level. Commercial flights to Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island is a large island of New Zealand, situated to the north-east of central Auckland in the outer Hauraki Gulf. With an area of it is the fourth-largest island of New Zealand's main chain of islands, with its highest point, Mount Hobson, rising...
. Private aircraft hangarage. Intensive Skydiving operations built up from 1986 and in 2003 the NZ Skydiving Championship was held at the airfield. The facility was renamed as West Auckland Airport in 2011.
Present day
West Auckland Airport is one of three GA airports serving light aircraft in Auckland, along with Ardmore Airport to the south east and North Shore Airfield to the north east of the city.Parakai Flying School provides training from ab initio
Ab initio
ab initio is a Latin term used in English, meaning from the beginning.ab initio may also refer to:* Ab Initio , a leading ETL Tool Software Company in the field of Data Warehousing.* ab initio quantum chemistry methods...
through to Commercial Pilot Licence
Commercial Pilot Licence
A Commercial Pilot License or, in the United States, a Commercial Pilot Certificate, is a qualification that permits the holder to act as the Pilot In Command of a single pilot aircraft, or as co-pilot of a multi-pilot aircraft and be paid for his/her work.The basic requirements to obtain the...
(CPL) level in Cessna aircraft, and from ab initio
Ab initio
ab initio is a Latin term used in English, meaning from the beginning.ab initio may also refer to:* Ab Initio , a leading ETL Tool Software Company in the field of Data Warehousing.* ab initio quantum chemistry methods...
to the Microlight
Ultralight aviation
The term "ultralight aviation" refers to light-weight, 1- or 2-person airplanes., also called microlight aircraft in the UK, India and New Zealand...
Advanced National Pilot Certificate in Tecnam aircraft. The airport is base for Leading Edge Aviation Ltd aircraft engineers (the only Southern Hemisphere repack Station for BRS Ballistic parachutes), Aerial Imagery aerial photographers, Blue Sky Skydivers, and three flying clubs: The Parakai Aviation Club, Northland Microlight Club, and is the northern base for the Auckland Regional Microlight Aircraft Club (ARMAC). Most Fixed Base Operator
Fixed base operator
A Fixed-base operator or commonly abbreviated FBO is a term developed in the United States after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926...
(FBO) services are available including fuel Avgas
Avgas
Avgas is an aviation fuel used to power piston-engine aircraft. Avgas is distinguished from mogas , which is the everyday gasoline used in cars and some non-commercial light aircraft...
and Mogas. Hangarage for private aircraft is provided in privately owned and FBO hangars. Space is available for building of private hangars.
Operational information
- Airport elevation is 6ft AMSL
- Runway 07/25 is 760m of Bitumen and a 140m all weather extension with grass on limestone, for a total length of 900m.
- Circuit: RWY 07 - left hand; RWY 25 - right hand
- Circuit height: 1000ft AMSL, all circuits to the north
The airport is uncontrolled with mandatory radio calls on 119.1 within 10 nm of the airfield or when using the Parakai Low Flying area.
By road West Auckland Airport is 37 minutes from the Auckland CDB and 30 minutes from Silverdale.