Airways apologises after power failure disrupts domestic flights

The agency which controls New Zealand’s aircraft movements apologised yesterday after flights were grounded when a power failure disrupted air traffic control systems.

Almost 40 domestic flights were delayed and three others were turned back when a power failure, triggered by a smoke alarm, affected the system nationwide.

Airways, which is responsible for controlling all air movements, said a fire alarm caused the main radar facility to revert to back-up mode.

Although this grounded flights, Airways said services were able to leave the tarmac after nearly an hour’s delay.

International flights, which use a separate system, were not affected.

Airways chief executive Graeme Sumner said 36 flights were held up and three others had to turn back and land again because of the glitch.

A partial evacuation of Airways’ radar centre in Christchurch was sparked by the alarm, he said.

“There was some smoke emanating from the uninterruptible power system. The Fire Service was called.”

It took 45 minutes to restore power.

Sumner said the 36 flights were delayed by an average of 50 minutes and there would be “some flow-on delays as a result of that”.

“I just want to apologise to both our clients and to the travelling public for any disruption . . . caused today.

“Naturally we regret that. But the safety of the travelling public is our primary concern and as a result we hope that people can understand that the actions we took today were necessary to ensure that took place.”