Taupo Airport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Taupo Airport Te Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō
IATA: TUO ICAO: NZAP
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Taupo Airport Authority
Location	Taupō
Elevation AMSL	1,335 ft / 407 m
Coordinates	38°44′23″S 176°05′04″E / 38.73972°S 176.08444°E / -38.73972; 176.08444
Website	http://taupoairport.co.nz/
Map
TUO Location in North Island
Runway
Runway Length Surface ft m 17/35 4,547 1,386 Asphalt 10/28 2,198 670 Grass

Taupo Airport (in Māori: Te Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō) is a busy small airport in New Zealand. It is located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of the Taupō town. The airport sits on the eastern side of Lake Taupo. Its airport codes are TUO (IATA) and NZAP (ICAO).

This airport is a popular spot for private jets. People often visit Taupō for fishing, golf, hunting, skiing, and staying at fancy resorts.

Flights and Airlines at Taupo Airport

Taupo Airport has regular flights to and from other major cities in New Zealand.

Who Flies to Taupō?

• Air New Zealand Link flies to Taupō from Auckland. They use a type of plane called a Bombardier DHC-8-Q300.
• Sounds Air flies to Taupō from Wellington. They use a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.

What Else Happens at the Airport?

Many small companies use Taupo Airport. Some offer charter flights, which are like private taxis in the sky. Others train new pilots. There are also businesses that fix planes and a large search and rescue team.

Taupo Airport is famous for being the busiest place in New Zealand for parachute jumping. This is called a "drop zone." Before the COVID-19 pandemic, two companies offered tandem skydiving here. Tandem skydiving is when you jump out of a plane attached to an experienced instructor.

How Taupo Airport Works

Airports have special rules to keep planes safe. Taupo Airport is a "non-towered airport." This means it does not have a control tower with air traffic controllers giving direct instructions to planes. Instead, pilots talk to each other and follow set procedures.

Key Airport Details

• The airport is 1335 feet (407 meters) above sea level.
• It has two main runways:
  • Runway 17/35: This runway is 1386 meters (4,547 feet) long and is covered in Asphalt.
  • Runway 10/28: This runway is 670 meters (2,198 feet) long and is made of Grass.
• The runways have lights, so planes can land and take off when it's dark.
• Planes usually fly in a specific pattern around the airport before landing. This is called a "traffic circuit." At Taupo, planes use a right-hand circuit for Runway 11/17 and a left-hand circuit for Runway 29/35. The circuit height is 2300 feet above sea level.

Taupo Airport is in a "Mandatory Broadcast Zone" (MBZ). This means pilots must announce their position and intentions on a special radio frequency. This helps everyone know what other planes are doing, even without a control tower.

Taupō Airport's Big Upgrade

Taupo Airport is getting a big makeover! This project started in March 2020 and was finished by October 2021.

What's New at the Airport?

• A brand new terminal building was built. This new building can handle more travelers as the airport gets busier.
• The area where planes park, called the "apron," was made bigger. This happened after the old terminal was removed, creating more space for aircraft.
• A new car park was also built, making it easier for people to park when they visit the airport.

This upgrade was paid for by the Provincial Growth Fund, the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, and the Taupō District Council.

Companies at Taupo Airport

Many different companies operate out of Taupo Airport, offering various services.

• Inflite
• Helicopter Services (BOP) Ltd
• Heli Maintenance (BOP) Ltd
• Lakeview Helicopters
• Philips Search and Rescue Trust
• Rotor and Wing Maintenance
• Taupo Tandem Skydiving
• Skydive Taupo
• Super Air
• Argus Aviation
• Helisika