See Lake FM's earlier stories on the Tūrangi Airfield
Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall
New Agreement for Emergency Services
After battling to maintain its status earlier this year as an operative aerodrome, the Tūrangi Airfield is now the base in the town for any Greenlea Rescue Helicopter visits to collect patients.
Tūrangi Aero Club president Alan Turner said the arrangement was official from April 30.
The airfield was "far superior", he said, to the site Greenlea had been operating from in Tūrangi – the Department of Conservation helipad on Kahurau Drive.
"It's got clearer approaches which for them coming in the dark makes life a hell of a lot easier."
Multiple Agencies Confirm Change
DOC has confirmed the move, with Dave Conley, Central Plateau operations manager, saying its helipad was being closed to public use for operational reasons.
"The Tūrangi Aerodrome has stepped up to provide an even better location for the rescue helicopter to land," Conley said.
Hato Hone St John confirmed the former helicopter meeting site was no longer fit for purpose being close to a motor caravan parking lot.
The Tūrangi aerodrome was the most logical local space, the organisation said, being a restricted area and an already allocated landing site with Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) data available to aircraft.
Ongoing Funding Challenges
The transfer of rescue operations to the aero club's grounds will add weight to its argument for more support from the Taupō District Council whose commitment to assist with mowing runs out at the end of June alongside an earlier indication it would not be continuing to assist with lease costs with landowners Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa Trust.
The withdrawal of the Taupō Airport Authority's willingness to act as named operator for the airfield in February this year resulted in a last-minute scrabble to find a new named operator with former airline pilot and club member Mike Fransham stepping into the role.
At the time both Fransham and John Evans of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association thought the council's dismissal of the field as a strategic asset was misguided.
Calls for Council Support
Turner reiterated this point on Wednesday morning as the new arrangement came into effect.
"When council decide that an airfield's not irrelevant, we expect them to start adding some lighting and other things that will enable the ambulance to get in and out.
"They (Greenlea Rescue) come down, I don't know how often, several times a day or not for months but when they do, they do. St John are on board, the whole community supports this."
The extra work and costs would be minimal, said Turner.
"But there will be some costs with lighting and power… we can do that down the track, they just want to get operating in there because it's much safer for them. It should have been done years ago."
Public Good Argument
He was hoping the council would see the value in contributing to the field.
"They have viewed it as being there for the pure benefit of the aero club, it's not, it's a public good, for the benefit of the whole community. And when push comes to shove and we get another (Cyclone) Gabrielle or something you want every bloody aerodrome you can get.
"It's there and it's in good condition, it's worth keeping. It's not a huge cost to council. Just a bit of mowing and a small lease fee."
Lake FM sought comment from Taupō District Council, but no response was received before publication.
