New Aviation Era Dawns Over Auckland On Sunday

September 19, 2003

NEW AVIATION ERA DAWNS OVER AUCKLAND ON SUNDAY

Aucklanders will witness the start of a new era in New Zealand aviation this Sunday when Air New Zealand's first Airbus A320 performs a celebratory flypast across the city on its way to touchdown for the first time on New Zealand soil.

The aircraft, arriving after a five-stop, three day delivery flight, will have notched up 22,700 kilometres in its journey from the giant Airbus manufacturing plant in Toulouse, France to Gander in Canada's New Foundland, followed by stops in Winnipeg, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Apia.

To ensure as many city residents as possible get the chance to see the new Airbus A320, a special flightpath has been devised which brings the aircraft in at low altitude over the city*.

Registered as ZK-OJA, the Airbus A320 will make landfall over the New Zealand mainland at Long Bay at 1142 and then sweep inland towards Whenuapai before turning near Herald Island and - at only 1,000 feet and 390 kph - flying up the Waitemata Harbour, crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge at 11.46am

The path takes the aircraft past North Head and around Kohimarama, turns into the Tamaki River estuary past Pakuranga and Panmure and crosses into the Manukau Harbour. Prior to its final approach into Auckland International Airport the A320 will fly low over Ambury Farm where a special open day is being held.

The top 10 viewing places, times and approximate flying levels are listed below:

Long Bay ` 11.42am 3,000 feet

Herald Island 11.44am 2,000 feet

Kauri Point Domain, Chatswood 11.45am 1,000 feet

Point Coyle, Point Chevalier 11.46am 1,000 feet

Cox's Bay Park, Westmere 11.46am 1,000 feet

Viaduct Harbour/Sky Tower 11.47am 1,000 feet

North Head 11.48am 1,000 feet

Mission Bay 11.48am 1,000 feet

Mt Wellington War Memorial Reserve/

Panmure Wharf 11.49am 1,500 feet

Ambury Farm Park, Mangere Bridge 11.52am 1,500 feet

For those enjoying a Sunday morning game, superb views should be possible from North Shore Golf Course at 1144 and from Howick Golf Gourse at 1149.

On touchdown at Auckland Airport, a special welcome has been organised but details are being kept under wraps.

Ends

* Please note the flightpath detailed above is dependent on weather conditions.

© Scoop Media