West Auckland Airport facts for kids

West Auckland Airport Parakai from the South West

West Auckland Airport Parakai (NZPI) is a special kind of airport. It's called a general aviation (GA) airport. This means it's mostly for smaller planes, not big passenger jets.

This airport is located on the northwest side of Auckland, New Zealand. It is very close to the town of Parakai. The airport is also about 3.8 kilometers northwest of Helensville. It sits at the southern end of the Kaipara Harbour. The West Auckland Airport Company Ltd runs the airport. They have special permission to operate as an 'Airport Authority'.

A Brief History of West Auckland Airport

The story of this airport began in the 1940s. Back then, the Helensville Aero Club used to fly from Helensville Airfield. In the 1960s, they moved to Parakai. They then renamed the airfield Parakai Airfield.

Runway Improvements Over Time

The runway first started as a grass surface. In the 1980s, it was improved with limestone. This made it strong enough to be used all year round. The surface kept getting better over time.

What Happened at the Airport

Many activities took place at the airfield. People could get flight training from different clubs. Flying schools taught students up to the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) level. There were also commercial flights to Great Barrier Island. People could also keep their private planes in hangars.

Skydiving at the Airport

Skydiving became very popular here starting in 1986. The New Zealand Skydiving Championships were held at the airfield in 2003 and 2013. Since 2013, many more NZ Skydive Championships have happened at this airport.

Becoming an Airport Authority

On February 17, 2020, a special rule was passed. This rule officially made West Auckland Airport Company Ltd an 'Airport Authority'. This change came into effect on April 1, 2020. This status gives the airport more freedom in how it operates.

West Auckland Airport Today

West Auckland Airport is one of three GA airports in Auckland. It serves smaller aircraft. The other two are Ardmore Airport and North Shore Airfield.

Future Plans for the Airport

The airport is working to become a bigger regional airport. It aims to offer domestic flights. This would be helpful for the 400,000 Auckland residents who live closest to it. The airport's location is great for growth. It can expand without moving any homes. It also won't disturb the current runway for light aircraft.

Flight Training and Services

Flight instructors at the airport teach people how to fly. They offer training from the very beginning (ab initio). They also teach up to the Microlight Advanced National Pilot Certificate. This training uses 3-axis Tecnam aircraft. All training planes have dual controls. Two of them even have special parachutes for the whole aircraft.

Businesses at the Airport

Several businesses are based at the airport. Leading Edge Aviation Ltd has aircraft engineers here. They are also a special station for repacking BRS Ballistic parachutes. Skydive Auckland operates from here. There are three flight training groups. The 'Aimm' Airport Movement Management System is also based here.

Airport Facilities

Most services for aircraft are available. This includes fuel like Avgas and Mogas. You can often find space to store private planes in the 16 hangars. There is also land available if someone wants to build their own hangar. Because it's an 'Airport Authority', the airport can be used for non-aviation businesses too. This is allowed as long as it doesn't interfere with airport operations.

How the Airport Works

Here is some important information about how West Auckland Airport operates:

• The airport is 6 feet (2 meters) above sea level.
• Runway 07/25 is 900 meters long in total. The first 760 meters are bitumen (a paved surface). The last 140 meters are grass on limestone. This part can be used in all weather.
• When planes take off or go around, they must stay over the middle of the runway. They also need to stay below 500 feet. This helps keep them safe from parachutes.
• There are concrete paths called taxiways. These lead to all the main hangars.
• The flight path for landing and taking off is called the circuit. For Runway 07, planes turn left. For Runway 25, they turn right.
• The circuit height is 1000 feet above sea level. All circuits are flown to the north of the airport.
• Because skydiving happens often, planes must join the circuit carefully. They should join from the downwind, base, or final parts. They should not fly directly over the airport. They also need to fly a wide circuit.

The airport does not have air traffic controllers. Pilots must make mandatory radio calls on frequency 123.5. These calls are needed when planes are within 10 nautical miles of the airport.

By road, the airport is about 34 minutes from Auckland CBD. It is also about 30 minutes from Silverdale.