Pilots want runway hearing stalled

Airline pilots want to delay a planning hearing on extending Wellington Airport’s runway.

It follows the Court of Appeal decision ordering the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to reconsider its approval of the 90m runway safety area for an extended runway.

The Air Line Pilots’ Association has asked the Environment Court for an adjournment of the Resource Management Act consents process.

With the hearings set down for June, the association says it would be unfair to the 274 parties who have lodged submissions on the airport’s consent applications for a runway extension.

It would be “inefficient” for the hearing to proceed, it said.

Parties would be spending a lot on a proposal which may be withdrawn or altered, the association says.

It wants the hearing to be adjourned until such time as the director of the CAA has made a decision and the airport has decided whether to abandon or modify its current application or proceed as it is.

Association president Tim Robinson said pilots were not against growth of the airport.

“As we’ve consistently said, as commercial pilots and air traffic controllers, our members have much to gain from an increase in flights landing and leaving from Wellington Airport, but not at any cost, especially if that cost is to the safety of passengers, local people, and airport staff.”

The airport wants to extend its runway by 350m to handle large, long-haul aircraft from Asia and the United States.

It is still considering next steps after the court ruling and said it would make an announcement in “due course”.

It said on Tuesday that the CAA had formerly approved Wellington’s 90m safety area as fully compliant and fully appropriate for the proposed runway extension. Many airports around the country have 90m safety areas.

Airport chief executive Steve Sanderson said it was too early to assess the effect of the decision. “We will discuss next steps with the Civil Aviation Authority, which is the principal defendant.”