Kaikoura Airport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kaikoura Airport
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Kaikoura District Council | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 19 ft / 6 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 42°25′30″S 173°36′08″E / 42.42500°S 173.60222°E | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
 Kaikoura
Location in New Zealand
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Source: NZAIP Volume 4 AD
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The Kaikoura Airport (airport codes: KBZ, NZKI) is a small airport in New Zealand. It's located about 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) southwest of the town of Kaikōura in the South Island. This airport is known as an "uncontrolled aerodrome." This means it doesn't have an air traffic control tower guiding planes. Instead, pilots talk to each other to make sure they fly safely.
Contents
History of Kaikoura Airport
Building the Airport
Kaikoura Airport first opened its doors in 1964. It was built by local council workers. The cost to build it was about 4000 pounds, which was a lot of money back then! When it first opened, it had a grass runway that was 575 meters (1,886 feet) long.
Changes and Upgrades
In 1983, the Kaikoura Aero Club was started. This club helps people learn to fly and enjoy aviation. Later, in 1995, the airport's main runway was sealed with a special material called bitumen. This was done because more planes were using the airport. It also helped protect the runway from damage, even from rabbits!
Past Flights and Services
From 1990 to 1991, a company called Air Charter Ltd offered regular flights. They flew to Christchurch using small Cessna 210 planes. Later, in 2004, another airline called Sounds Air started flying to Kaikoura. They offered two flights a day from Wellington. However, these flights stopped in 2009 because not enough people were using them.
Helping After the Earthquake
On November 21, 2016, a big earthquake hit Kaikoura. It damaged the main roads and other ways to get into town. Sounds Air stepped in to help. They started temporary daily flights from Kaikoura to Blenheim and Christchurch. These flights used a Cessna Caravan plane. The service was very important for people needing to travel. It was planned for three weeks but ended up running until the end of December 2017.
Whale Watching Flights
Today, a company called Wings Over Whales operates from Kaikoura Airport. They offer exciting scenic flights. You can fly over the ocean to watch whales from above. They also offer other special charter flights.
Airlines and Destinations
Currently, one airline flies from Kaikoura Airport:
- Air Kaikoura flies to Wellington.
Airport Operations
Kaikoura Airport is managed by the Kaikoura District Council. It is open for general use. This means that most small planes can use the airport without needing special permission.
The airport has two main runways:
- One runway is made of bitumen and is 700 meters (2,297 feet) long.
- The other runway is made of grass and is 615 meters (2,018 feet) long.
The airport is located about 6 meters (19 feet) above sea level.
