Ardmore Airport (New Zealand) Explained

Ardmore Airport
Iata:AMZ
Icao:NZAR
Type:Public
Owner:Ardmore Airport Ltd
Operator:New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority
Location:Auckland
Elevation-F:111
Elevation-M:34
R1-Number:03R/21L
R1-Length-F:4,630
R1-Length-M:1,411
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:03L/21R
R2-Length-F:1,700
R2-Length-M:518
R2-Surface:Grass
R3-Number:07/25
R3-Length-F:1,960
R3-Length-M:597
R3-Surface:Grass

Ardmore Airport is an airport 3 nautical miles (5.5 km) southeast of Manurewa in Auckland, New Zealand.

History

Ardmore was constructed during World War II by USAAF forces stationed in Auckland and was intended to be used as a base for B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. Due to developments in the Pacific War it was never used for this purpose but was instead was used by the RNZAF, who operated Corsair fighters. RNZAF Auckland operations were consolidated at Whenuapai after World War II. From the post-war years until the mid-1970s the grounds were home to a teacher training unit and the Auckland University School of Engineering.

New Zealand Grand Prix

From 1954 until 1962 the aerodrome was home to the New Zealand Grand Prix with the circuit being approximately 2miles in length and utilising the two sealed runways operational at the time. In 1954 and 1955, about 70,000 spectators attended the event. Local authorities made the decision to open the facility to general aviation and the Grand Prix was moved to Pukekohe upon completion of a purpose built facility there.[1] British racing driver Ken Wharton was killed at the NZ Grand Prix at Ardmore on 12 January 1957 when he crashed his Ferrari Monza.

Present day

Ardmore Airport is one of New Zealand's busiest general aviation airfields. Traffic mainly consists of small private aircraft and the classic aircraft of the New Zealand Warbirds Association, which is based there.[2] Businesses in the airfield include several flying schools, maintenance, fuel and aircraft restoration. Buildings are situated around aprons to the north, west, south and southeast.

A control tower remains in the centre of the field but this is no longer used for air traffic control. It is now used as a UNICOM service.

Operational information

Ardmore has six vectors: 03/21 sealed runway, 03/21 grass runway and 07/25 grass runway. There used to be a 07/25 sealed runway but this is no longer used and is now a taxiway (Taxiway Juliet).

The airfield has a circuit height of 1100feet for fixed-wing aircraft, 800feet for helicopters. The circuit for runways 03 and 07 is right-hand while that for runways 21 and 25 is left-hand.

The airfield is serviced by two R-NAV (GPS) arrivals, one for each runway (03 and 21). The airport itself is uncontrolled and located within a Mandatory Broadcast Zone (MBZ). This airspace is monitored by the Ardmore Unicom service who operate during daylight hours. The aerodrome is located to the south east of Auckland International Airport airspace.

Accidents and incidents

Accidents and incidents that occurred at or near Ardmore Airport include:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Mackay,Ross. Racing: A history of motorsport in New Zealand.Whitcoulls 2007.
  2. Web site: NZ Warbirds Association Inc . April 23, 2020.
  3. Web site: Blazing Plane | Evening Post . Fairfax Media (Wellington) . 11 January 1945 .
  4. Web site: Pilot Injured | Evening Post . Fairfax Media (Wellington) . 22 November 1944 .
  5. Web site: Pilot seriously injured | Evening Post . Fairfax Media (Wellington) . 7 March 1945 .
  6. Web site: Multi-million dollar spitfire crashes | The New Zealand Herald . APN New Zealand Ltd. . 3 December 2009 . 30 August 2011 .
  7. Web site: Emergency at Ardmore Airport. 27 September 2010 . 27 September 2010.
  8. Web site: Plane catches fire after landing at Ardmore Airport - TV News Video | TVNZ . 29 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714114709/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/plane-catches-fire-after-landing-ardmore-airport-video-5791114 . 14 July 2014 . dead .
  9. Web site: Airplane Fire at Ardmore - Barber Snark Destroyed 4 Jan 14. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/_1QB4q7fePw . 2021-12-21 . live. galtrot. 5 January 2014. YouTube.
  10. Web site: Light plane crashes at Ardmore Airport - National News | TVNZ . 29 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714153631/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/light-plane-crashes-ardmore-airport-5859395 . 14 July 2014 . dead .
  11. Web site: Ryan . S. . Light plane crashes near Ardmore Airfield . APN New Zealand Ltd. . 29 June 2014 .
  12. News: Light aircraft making emergency landing at Ardmore Airport. 30 September 2016. New Zealand Herald. NZ Herald. 28 September 2016.