Wanting to Announce the Arrival of Flight...

Masterton is still actively searching for an operator to connect the Wairarapa with Auckland at least. Here are a couple of pieces I missed from last year...

Our need to take flight...
Opinion Piece by Don Farmer

Losing a commercial air service from Hood Aerodrome has had a “catastrophic effect” on an otherwise booming Masterton district the New Zealand Airports annual conference in Wellington was told yesterday. In a hard-hitting speech to the conference Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson said the only sticking point with the district’s prosperity was poor transport links, including having no passenger air service. Whereas she was “very proud to tell you our town is booming” Mrs Patterson said it was being held back because of transport. Masterton has had the highest GDP growth in the greater Wellington region for the last three years, and it’s still  rising. House sales, consents issued, vehicle registrations and annual earnings were increasing at a much faster rate “ than the rest of Wellington and the rest of New Zealand.” “We are experiencing sustained population growth with a steady stream of families and new businesses moving to the town all the time. “They are mainly people who are sick and tired of metropolitan living and are looking for a better, more affordable place to raise their family. “We are fortunate to have ultrafast broadband, but we certainly haven’t got ultrafast transport links,” Mrs Patterson said. There had been a daily Air New Zealand service between Masterton and Auckland from 2009 until the start of 2014. “Of all the regional services that closed at that time we are the only location which still does not have a replacement. “The decision to cease operations out of Hood Aerodrome has had a catastrophic effect on our ability to do business with the rest of the country,” she said. Wairarapa was a rural area that relied heavily on the Life Flight service as often the only way of transporting seriously ill or injured people to emergency medical care. Despite no commercial airline operating out of Hood, the aerodrome and runway needed to be maintained to a high standard for the “vital life-saving service.” Underwriting initial losses and maintaining good airport infrastructure gave potential airline operators confidence as it reduced risks presented by narrow runways, low passenger numbers and ageing facilities. “No operator will come to town unless those risks are mitigated and there are facilities available matching their aircraft type. “All this costs money and that comes from one source alone, the ratepayer,” Mrs Patterson said. Masterton District Council had worked hard to keep rates down with an increase of 2.3 per cent. “An investment of say $1m at Hood would hike that up by another four per cent. “That’s not acceptable to our council, and not acceptable to our community.” Mrs Patterson said there was a “significant disparity” between the various transport links. “The New Zealand Transport Agency looks after our main roads and we maintain the rest, assisted by a 57 per cent NZTA subsidy. “It’s our biggest single area of investment and more than half of it is funded by central government. “Yet when it comes to airport infrastructure, we are expected to pick up the entire bill,” she said. Mrs Patterson said she was constantly lobbied by businesses and others over the need for an air service. “We need an air service for economic reasons, tourism, business and even the basics of social cohesion. “Aunty and uncle in Auckland don’t fancy flying to Wellington or Palmerston North and then having to cross the Rimutaka Hill or travel the Saddle Road twice, so they don’t come here anywhere near as often as they would like.” She also spoke of the problems the district could face in the event of disasters such as a major earthquake which could result in Rimutaka Hill Road being closed for a lengthy period and trains being out of action. “It’s not hard to imagine a scenario where we are cut off, unable to leave or receive help we desperately need. “This may just be the most important reason why we need a regular passenger air service.”

Source : http://times-age.co.nz/need-take-flight/, 29 September 2017

Masterton serious about re-establishing air link

Running an air link out of Wairarapa in the past has been a marginal enterprise at best, but Masterton District Council is turning on the landing lights for would-be commercial operators. The council has just closed its registrations of interest for airlines which would consider operating a regular air service out of the region's only airport. Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson said she would not rule out some form of assistance if ratepayers were prepared to get behind it. The air strip at Masterton's Hood Aerodrome would need upgrading to allow a broader range of commercial aircraft. "It has to be in the mix because there is a public good in having the air service. Having a regional airline back in Masterton is critical for our economic development," she said. The new Government had  said regional development was a key focus and Patterson said it could have a role to play. "If we could get Government support around infrastructure, it would be a real win-win," she said. Previous investigations had shown that Masterton's airstrip would need improvements if it were to accommodate a broader range of commercial aircraft. New Zealand Airports Association chief executive Kevin Ward said they were lobbying Government to ensure regional air links were functioning well and part of that would be to establish a fund to maintain and upgrade infrastructure. Ward said the good news for Wairarapa was that several regional hubs similar to Masterton had faced the challenge of getting air links re-established in recent years and had succeeded in finding operators. "They've all managed to find a carrier that met their requirements. The possibilities are out there and it just depends on getting the right combination of aircraft and operator and getting a package together," he said. Masterton businessman Gareth Norris was a regular user of the air service before it was cut almost four years ago. "It makes you feel less isolated in terms of operating a business from Wairarapa, because we could easily head off to Auckland if we needed to." An air link provided a "massive spin-off" for the region and local and central government needed to consider propping it up if necessary. "It is really stopping us from flying to great heights as a region," he said. Air New Zealand established a regular Masterton-Auckland daily service in 2009 but pulled the plug in early 2014. The national carrier said at the time it was losing $1 million a month on its regional routes served by 19-seat Beechcraft 1900D aircraft over the previous two years. The Masterton District Council was involved in efforts to re-establish an airline later that year and had two potential operators interested. The council opted to go with Vincent Aviation's bid, but the airline went into receivership soon afterwards and the service never got off the ground. A council spokesman confirmed "multiple" carriers had expressed  interest recently. The council was likely to find out in January if any of those airlines were prepared to submit a proposal.

Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/100069675/masterton-serious-about-reestablishing-air-link, 22 December 2017