March 2015

Ardmore Flyer

AIRPORT’S BIG TAXIWAY RESEALING PROJECT COMPLETED

Ardmore Airport’s biggest airside project in years, the resealing of about 1.5 kilometres of taxi-

ways, has been completed.

Over a 10-day period this month, teams of Fulton Hogan workers laid about 16,000 square metres

of a “slurry” coating seal over the existing stone chip surface on the main taxiway and associ-

ated stubs.

AAL’s chief executive, Trevor Willcock, said the choice of the relatively new seal product was

made after lengthy investigation showed it produced a smooth surface ideal for small aircraft

movements.

“To test the product, we did a trial section on taxiway Sierra,” he said. “The results were very

good so we took the decision to seal the entire main taxiway Sierra and its associated stubs.

“We tried to keep our operations disruption to a minimum and I’d like to thank airport users for

their co-operation while the work was being done.”

Airport supervisor Mike Bristow said the new surface had a life expec-

tancy of up to 15 years. “The team we’ve had on this has made it

happen. Peter King, our groundsman contractor, Naydene Wiseman,

Unicom operator, and Allan Bostock, Unicom manager, have

been crucial to the smooth running of the project.

AAL plans taxiway lighting improvements in the coming weeks. Thirty

solar-powered centre lights will be installed on taxiway Sierra and a

further 81 such lights on the remaining. Markings on stubs associated

with the taxiways will be painted luminous green.

Mike Bristow

Taxiway Romeo Test strip

Page 2

Message from the CEO

In This Issue

This summer saw us tackle the re-sealing of taxiway Sierra and all

of the associated taxiway stubs, using a slurry seal which, once

cured gives a much smoother surface for aircraft to taxi on. This

was one of the biggest airside projects we have undertaken to

date and I would like to thank all of our users and operators for

your patience and understanding of the process and the

operational restraints that applied. The end result is better than

expected thanks to the efforts of the airport team that managed

the project and the contractor Fulton Hogan. We also hosted

The third Ardmore Showdown which proved to be yet another

successful combination of wheels and aircraft and drew some

good numbers to the airfield.

As the lovely summer days start to come to an end I wish you blue skies and happy and safe

flying.

Trevor Willcock

News items: Ardmore Showdown Page 3

Airwork expansion Page 4

Engineering school re-union Page 5

Airport infrastructure: Main taxiway Sierra— New slurry application Page 1

Diary dates:

* Next Warbirds open day Page 9

Page 3

ARDMORE SHOWDOWN DAY PROVES SUCCESSFUL

The sights, sounds and smells of an array of roaring cars kept thousands of spectators entertained at last

month’s Ardmore Showdown. Billed as “Wings v Wheels” day at Ardmore Airport, the event attracted

about 3500 people who witnessed hours of drag racing, drifting and gymkhana contests.

One of the day’s features was a “race” between a jetcar and a Strikemaster aircraft along the airport’s

main runway. A technical hiccup in the plane meant the race result was not as clear cut as it could have

been.

Static and aerial displays gave spectators a taste of just how vintage

and veteran aircraft of the New Zealand Warbirds Association can

perform.

Azhar Bhamji, managing director of Premier Events which organised the

event, said he was pleased with how the day panned out. There were

no traffic jams and no complaints, he said. The event’s format had

been changed from previous years to accommodate all tastes.

“All the feedback is positive,” said Azhar. They all

want to come back and get ready for the next one.

We’re planning to do another one in two years’

time, maybe even sooner.”

Ardmore Airport chief executive Trevor Willcock said:

“It went very well from an operational point of view.

It was well run with enough food and toilet facilities.

There were no security issues. “The bringing together

of petrol heads and aviation enthusiasts is always an

exciting mix with both groups getting a glimpse of

each other’s capabilities and talents.”

Azhar Bhamji

Burnouts brought plenty of smoke

Jetcar ends its runway sprint

- By John Andrews

Page 4

AIRWORK’S EXPANSION REFLECTS DEMAND

Airwork [NZ] Ltd, one of the biggest enterprises at Ardmore Airport, is in the midst of a multi-million

dollar expansion programme.

Dan Henderson, Airwork’s commercial manager, said the company had

come up with a three stage plan for its Airfield Road site to cope with

expanding business demands.

The first involved the leasing of more airport land to cater for additional

car parking. By providing space for 90 more cars, the company’s car

parking limit had been increased to 150 spaces.

Dan said a 1200 square metre hangar --- effectively trebling the

company’s hangar capacity --- for the maintenance and refurbishment

of helicopters was being built on what was the company’s old car park.

Airwork’s workshop area, complete with

cleaning room to meet all the require-

ments for aircraft parts, would be doubled

in size in the second stage of

redevelopment.

“Our old storage hangar becomes our

new turbine overhaul facility,” said Dan.

“Our dynamic components will take over

the turbine area which, in turn, will be

remodeled.”

The construction of a two-storey building to house administration, training and quality assurance

facilities on the top floor and workshops on the ground floor would represent the third stage.

Dan said: “It’s about allowing us to meet our projected growth targets. The demand from over-

seas is increasing constantly. We have 120 staff working here and, out of necessity, we will have

to employ more.”

He expected the expansion programme would be complete by the end of this year.

Dan Henderson

Foundations for the new maintenance hangar - Stage 1

Pre-cast concrete walls lifted into position 1200 square metres of space for helicopter maintenance at Airwork

Page 5

ENGINEERS RECALL THEIR DAYS AT ARDMORE About 40 engineers, all graduates from the Ardmore School of Engineering more than 50 years ago,

converged on Ardmore Airport this month for a reunion.

Basing themselves in their former cafeteria, the building which the New Zealand Warbirds Association now

uses as its administration headquarters, the mainly retired engineers spent three days reminiscing about

their experiences at the school which closed in 1968.

Programme highlights included addresses by

Ardmore Airport chief executive, Trevor

Willcock, on AAL’s future plans for the

airport, and Professor Nick Smith, dean of

engineering at the University of Auckland.

John Irving, who chaired the reunion’s

organizing committee, said Professor Smith

spoke of invoking the “spirit of Ardmore” in

managing changes and challenges of what

is New Zealand largest and most diverse

engineering faculty.

The engineers some of whom were

accompanied by their wives and partners,

came from as far afield as Australia.

They witnessed one of their former lecturers,

Emeritus Professor Arved Raudkivi, unveil a

memorial plaque recording the Ardmore

school’s 20-year existence.

The plaque was designed by Trevor Bayly,

an engineer-turned-artist. Professor Raudkivi,

now aged 95, is recognised for his expertise

in coastal protection.

Other reunion activities included tours of the

Ardmore control tower and the Warbirds

hangar -— a building which once housed

the engineering school’s laboratories --- and

visits to Clevedon, Hunua Falls and the John

Hill Estate Vineyard.

Emeritus Professor Raudkivi unveiled the memorial

Some of the engineers at the Hunua Falls

Page 6 Advertisement

75th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN” TOUR

Sunday 6th – Wednesday 23rd September 2015

This tour concentrates on the Battle, visiting various airfields, sites, monuments - and 2 air shows - commemorating what was a huge

turning point not only of Great Britain’s and Europe’s history but that of the whole world. Had the battle been lost the world as we

know it could have turned out very differently?

This fabulous tour will include: Solent Sky Museum (R.J. Mitchell Hall of Fame, designer of the Spitfire) RAF Tangmere - Military

Aviation Museum RAF Hawkinge - Kent Battle of Britain Museum Capel-le-Ferne – National Memorial To The Few RAF Biggin

Hill (optional visit to the Kent Spitfire Restoration Company) RAF Biggin Hill – St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance RAF

Bentley Priory, Headquarters Fighter Command - Battle Museum RAF Hendon – RAF Museum RAF Uxbridge – 11 Fighter

Group Battle of Britain Bunker (underground Operations Centre) RAF North Weald – The Squadron (original NAAFI) RAF North

Weald – North Weald Aviation Museum RAF Coningsby – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) BBMF - oldest airworthy,

and the only Spitfire still flying to have actually fought in the Battle of Britain RAF Woodhall Spa – No 617 (Dambusters) Squadron:

Officer’s Mess (we stay overnight) RAF Duxford – Imperial War Museum, Airborne Museum, Land Warfare Museum & 8th US Air

Force Museum RAF Duxford – 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Airshow -“Arrivals Day” RAF Duxford – 75th Anniver-

sary of the Battle of Britain Airshow: 1 or 2 full days: possibly including a BoB Me-109E RAF Kenley – 75th Anniversary of the Bat-

tle of Britain Airshow Whitehall – Churchill War Rooms Lambeth – Imperial War Museum The Embankment – Battle of Britain

London Monument The Embankment - Royal Air Force Monument Old Warden airfield - The Shuttleworth Collection

All visits are confirmed, and in some cases we have been able to arrange special access to those that are normally closed. Normal ad-

mission is included to both air shows, however, upgraded admission including seating is available at a supplement. Please annotate

your booking form if you are interested and details will be sent to you as they become available. As well as the organised visits, there is

a free day in Cambridge and 2 full days in London to enjoy as you wish. You stay each night in a comfortable hotel, on either a Dinner,

Bed and Breakfast basis (3 nights) or Bed and Breakfast basis (11 nights), as the tour travels around England are by air-conditioned

coach; and the group is accompanied by an experienced tour manager once you arrive in the UK & is also an aviation enthusiast. This

is a truly comprehensive tour of historical sites associated with the Battle of Britain

TOUR PRICES ($NZD): Twin share basis ex Auckland $8,590.00 Single Supplement $1,290.00

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES : Return economy class air fare with Air New Zealand via Shanghai ex Auckland 14 nights hotel

accommodation sharing a twin-bedded room with private facilities Continental or Full English Breakfast each morning, as included

in the room rate Dinner (3 night) as specified in itinerary Transfers on Days 1 and 15 Coach transportation throughout the itiner-

ary as indicated Special access to No 617 (Dambusters) Squadron bar Admission to all aviation museums and collections, as in the

itinerary One days general admission to the “75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Air show”, Duxford One days general admis-

sion to the “75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain air show”, Kenley Services of a Tour Manager throughout the UK & Gratuity

for coach driver

NOT INCLUDED: Midday and evening meals, except where stated as being an included item Transfer to/from Duxford and

admission to the air show on Day 13 Upgraded admission tickets, where available, at the two air shows Travel insurance & visa to

enter the United Kingdom - if necessary. Personal expenditure, for example, telephone calls, laundry, drinks, etc.

For more information, a full itinerary & terms and condition please contact me as below.

Personal Your Travel Agent

MONDO TRAVEL MT EDEN

297 Dominion Road

Mt Eden, Auckland 1024

Phone: 09 630 2435

Email: david.boyce@mondotravel.co.nz

Page 7

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At Aon we have a dedicated aviation team that specialise in your industry.

Contact Aon’s aviation team

09 362 9000 nz.aviation@aon.com

Advertisement

If you would like to know more about property available at

Ardmore Airport, please contact our Property Manager

Dean Hitchcock.

M: 021 885 416

T: 09 298 9544

E: property@ardmoreairport.co.nz

Disclaimer Notification Reference herein to any specific commercial products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark or company or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation by AAL (Ardmore Airport Limited). The views and opinions of authors expressed herein shall not be used for advertising or product-endorsement purposes. AAL assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this publication or other documents or files that are referenced by or linked to this publication.

Key Dates

NZ Warbirds - D Day Open Day Sunday 31 May 2015

If you have an event you wish to have listed here please contact Melanie Nelson

melanie@ardmoreairport.co.nz OR +64 9 298 9544

Ardmore Airport Limited

proudly supports

Westpac Rescue Helicopter

Trust and Kidney Kids

Page 8

Ardmore Airport Ltd - Team

Trevor Willcock - Chief Executive - trevor@ardmoreairport.co.nz

Mike Bristow - Airport Supervisor - mike@ardmoreairport.co.nz

Roslin Quigley - Finance & Administration Manager - roslin@ardmoreairport.co.nz

Allan Bostock - General Manager Unicom - allan@arunicom.co.nz

Melanie Nelson - Reception & Personal Assistant - melanie@ardmoreairport.co.nz

John Andrews - Journalist/Editor - johnandrews@xtra.co.nz

Dean Hitchcock