MRC Aviation: Southern Scenic

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Friday, February 2, 2018

Southern Scenic - Part I

It is always a pleasure traveling to New Zealand's Central Otago district, especially in a summer where the region has basked in dry, warm conditions since November last year.

Queenstown is the district's largest town with its once sleepy airport now a bustling hive of commercial activity accommodating multiple helicopter and fixed-wing scenic flight operators mingling with local and foreign airline activity. Just last month the Queenstown Airport Company announced that for 2017 a total of 2,017,619 million passengers used the terminal - this excludes those using the scenic flight operators. This figure marked a 13% increase on the 2016 through put and is a considerable step change from the days of just a few Mt Cook Hawker Siddeley 748's flights whistling in and out!

Brilliant view of Queenstown International Airport looking south, Yannick photo

In addition to the commercial airline's and scenic flight operators, Queenstown now has its own dedicated corporate jet handling terminal under the Queenstown Corporate Jet Services banner operated in joint partnership with Air Center One and Capital Jet Services. The top end tourist market and Queenstown's globally recognised offerings of attractions and 5+ star lodgings see corporate aircraft come from all corners of the planet and the airport is often the only place in NZ these aircraft visit. The airport is base for privately operated Challenger 350 N300NZ.

Helicopters play a significant role in a mixture of activities from and around Queenstown with its mountainous terrain. The Helicopter Line operates a large number of AS350 Squirrels conducting tourist duties. Over The Top, Glacier Southern Lakes, Helicopters Queenstown, Heliworks Queenstown and Heli Tours also play a large part in bolstering overall helicopter movements.

Below are just a few of the choppers working from Queenstown. Type/designators quoted are as per NZCAA register records.