Taupo Airport Report Actioned

MEDIA RELEASE
March 26, 2005

Taupo Airport Report Actioned

The Taupo Airport User Group today welcomed the final report into Taupo Airport and said the consensus achieved between the regulator, airport users and the airport operator on outstanding issues was the best result and one which further enhanced safety.

Group spokesman, Arthur Whitehead said the implementation of the final report’s recommendations was completed on 7 March with the assistance of an independent specialist, Marsh Risk Consulting, resulting from two safety workshops and discussions amongst all involved.

A Civil Aviation Authority study team reported on Taupo Airport last year and twenty of the twenty five recommendations on operational issues were adopted by the Director of Civil Aviation in December. He requested further consideration by the responsible parties on how the approved recommendations would be implemented and this has been resolved via the Marsh Report.

The study team recommendations rejected by the Director of CAA related to the proposal to re-establish an Aerodrome Flight information Service. Users also believed this would impact negatively on operational safety standards.

“Several parties have now moved quickly to implement the adopted recommendations which will enhance safety at Taupo. These recommendations deal effectively with some safety issues identified in the course of the earlier study.”

Mr Whitehead said it was the experience of many users that the best safety solutions emerge from broad consensus on what the issues are and how they should be addressed. He said Taupo had operated for a number of years on the basis of the usual rules of good airmanship that apply to all aerodromes, plus additional CAA mandated procedures as well as a memorandum of understanding between key users.

“It has worked well with all parties accountable for the safe operation of the airport. This will further improve as the 20 adopted recommendations are implemented.

“As users, we acknowledge that all involved must openly participate in evaluating and remedying issues as they arise. In this case, any prospect that the airport operator would unilaterally introduce a flight information system without technical justification, would be at odds with the Director of Civil Aviation and undermine the consensus that has been successfully achieved through those who actually fly and operate in this environment.”

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