Council backs improvements to aerodrome
The decision to close a grass runway at Hood Aerodrome, following a double-fatal mid-air plane crash, has been retrospectively endorsed by Masterton councillors.
The runway was closed by the council chief executive on November 13 following an independent review of safety at Hood Aerodrome.
Skydive Wellington pilot
Joshua Christensen and
Wairarapa Aero Club member Craig McBride died after their aircrafts crashed mid-air near the aerodrome on the morning of June 16.
Both were Masterton locals. The Civil Aviation Authority [CAA], police, coroner and Transport Accident Investigations Commission [TAIC] are investigating and the council called in Mike Groome, who has long been associated with Taupo Airport, to review the operation of the aerodrome – a separate exercise to crash investigations.
Groome said the aerodrome was a wonderful piece of paradise and a nice country airfield and should remain that way.
His report found it was well run but made recommendations to improve operations, all of which were accepted by both the council’s audit and risk committee and full council on Wednesday.
He spoke in detail about the issues of joining queues in the air and of taxiing and landing when there were multiple runways, likening it to roundabouts and roads in the air.
The closure of the small grass airstrip eliminates the risk of a non-standard arrival or departure. The closed runway is one of three parallel runways at Hood.
More safety meetings and binding memorandum with users are also recommended.