Mercer Airfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mercer Airfield
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Private | ||||||||||
| Owner | Niel Young | ||||||||||
| Operator | Palms On George Ltd | ||||||||||
| Location | Mercer, New Zealand | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 30 ft / 9 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37°15′27″S 175°6′54″E / 37.25750°S 175.11500°E | ||||||||||
| Website | Mercer Airport Website | ||||||||||
| Runway | |||||||||||
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Mercer Airfield (ICAO: NZME) is a small, private airport located about 6 kilometers (3.23 NM) northeast of Mercer Village. Mercer is a town in the Waikato region of New Zealand. This airfield does not have an air traffic control tower, meaning pilots talk to each other to keep safe.
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History of Mercer Airfield
Mercer Airfield was first developed by Jim and Libby Lyver. Not much is known about its very early days. However, a business called Mercer Backpackers moved its operations to the airport as early as 2002.
Ownership Changes
In December 2010, the airport was put up for sale. At that time, it was owned by the Auckland Recreational Airparks Trust (ARA Trust). Later that month, it was announced that Niel Young had bought the airfield.
Events and Competitions
Mercer Airfield has hosted several exciting aviation events.
Auckland Aero Club Competition
In May 2014, the Auckland Aero Club held its yearly Club Competition at Mercer Airfield. This event brings together pilots for friendly flying challenges.
Women in Aviation Rally
From June 1 to June 6, 2016, the 56th New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation (NZAWA) held its Annual Rally and Conference at the airfield. Members from the Australian Women Pilots' Association (AWPA) also attended this special gathering.
Northern Region Competitions
In November 2016, Mercer Airfield was also the host for the Flying NZ Northern Region Competitions. These competitions test the flying skills of pilots from the northern part of New Zealand.
How Mercer Airfield Operates
When the ARA Trust owned Mercer Airfield, it was mainly used for fun flying, like people flying small planes for hobbies.
Current Operations
Today, Mercer Airport is used for more than just recreational flying. It's now used for business activities.
Commercial Activities
Some of the commercial activities at the airfield include:
- Skydiving: People jump out of planes for fun.
- Training: Pilots learn how to fly planes and helicopters.
- Public flying: People can fly their own planes in and out of the airport.
Helicopter Use
There are also many helicopter activities at, and just north of, the airfield. Mercer Airfield is used as a second training location for a company called Helicopter Flight Training Ltd. This means new helicopter pilots get some of their lessons here.
