Circuit and Operations :

Runway 07 from the South West (from the non traffic side). All circuits are to the north.

View from the North East, on right base for 25. All circuits are to the north. Avoid flying over Parakai or Helensville towns.

Name change: In May 2011 the process was started for changing the name from 'Parakai Aerodrome' to 'West Auckland Airport'. It will remain 'Parakai' for official aviation purposes until the name change works through the maps / AIPs / other official channels, ie it is currently in the AIP as 'Parakai', aerodrome identified of 'NZPI' and radio calls are made to 'Parakai Traffic'.

Availability: Available for general use, visitors welcome. Landing fees and overnight parking payable, will be automatically charged through 'Greasr' Clearing House Twelve months unlimited landings $287. Refer to the current NZAIP and NOTAMs under 'Parakai' and 'NZPI' as per standard airmanship practice. Google map and satellite view.

GPS: S36 39.06 E174 26.00

Elevation: 6 ft

Runway: 07 / 25 is 860m long, 740m x 8m of seal plus a 120m all-weather grass extension at the eastern end. Turn only at the ends.

Circuit direction: 07 Left hand, 25 Right hand. Circuit altitude 1000 ft for aircraft approaching at above 80kt. Circuit 500ft for aircraft 80kt and below, who must announce intentions, identify faster traffic and if necessary extend downwind to fit in with faster traffic when turning final.

Radio: 119.1 mhz (unattended).
For safety reasons all aircraft using the airfield must have a radio, or be accompanied by a radio ship that makes calls for both. Please turn the radio on before taxying and keep it on until shutdown, for situational awareness.

Caution: High ground to the east. Mandatory turn on reaching the river after take-off runway 07.

VISITING PILOTS' NOTES: (Local Pilot's notes at base of this page.)

Situation: West Auckland Airport (Parakai) 'NZPI' is an Auckland airfield accessible using the uncomplicated airspace and reporting points of Auckland's West Coast. Being at sea level it usually remains open even in humid northerly 'warm front' conditions. Visitors are welcome.

Airspace:
Lower level of Auckland controlled airspace over the field is 2500 ft, and otherwise the airspace around the aerodrome is free of restrictions.

Facilities:
Avgas, Mogas, Courtesy Car for visiting aviators, Clubrooms with tea/coffee, Icecreams and drinks at Skydive Bases, Bunkroom, Kitchen, Hot Shower, Toilets, Pilot Shop

ARRIVAL
From the South and West
Approaching through the Te Henga transit zone under the NZWP approaches, stay at sea and below 1500 ft until past the Muriwai golf course, at which point turn 15 degrees to the right and it is possible to climb to 2500 ft if necessary. Report position to 'Parakai Traffic' on 119.1 at Muriwai Golf Course and at the large Glasshouses at Woodhill, and advise intentions.   Track initially towards Helensville town visible against the hills to the north. Pass to the East or West of the Airport to join downwind for 07 or 25... wind direction is usually obvious from the wind shadow on the river. As there are frequent skydive operations, do not join overhead or directly over fly the airport.

Approaching from the south, Helensville to the right and Parakai town to the top left. Pass to either side of the airport, do not fly overhead due to frequent skydiving.

From the North
Track down the eastern side of the Kaipara harbour, not above 2500 ft. Report position to 'Parakai Traffic' on 119.1 abeam Shelly Beach and again at the Kaipara River mouth and advise intentions. Track initially towards Helensville town and West Auckland Airport will be found two miles up the river towards Helensville on the western side. Join right base for 25, left base 07 or downwind 07. As there is frequent skydiving, do not join overhead or directly overfly the airport. Wind direction is usually obvious from the waves on the harbour.

From the East, and approaching from North Shore Airfield
Track to Kaukapakapa town and at the Kaukapakapa power pylons change from NZNE frequency to 'Parakai Traffic' on 119.1 and report position and intentions. Join right base 25 or downwind for 07. Aircraft with the ability to descend steeply can join long final 25 if traffic permits, but aircraft that float on descent will not be able to clear Mt Rex and get down in time. As there is frequent skydiving, do not join overhead or directly overfly the airport. Wind direction is usually obvious from the waves on the river and harbour.

CIRCUIT PROCEDURES
Normal unattended airfield procedures apply. The runway at NZPI is aligned 07/25. All circuits are to the north of the airfield, so the circuit direction is lefthand for 07 and righthand for 25.  As there is frequent skydiving, do not join overhead or directly overfly the airport. Wind direction is usually obvious from the waves on the river and harbour.

Landing on 07: If 'going around' or 'touch and go', remember the mandatory left turn at the river. 

FLY-INS... if landing traffic density is high, exit left onto the grass taxiway, or if the ground is soft land long and roll ahead onto the raised grass runway extension off the end of 07 and hold in the grassed turning circle to backtrack as a group when there is a gap in landing traffic.

Late final 07 [Guillemin photo]

Landing on 25: When runway 25 is in use, many  pilots prefer to fly a gently curving turn from early right base to late final so as to descend over low farmland rather than the higher forest.  

VISITOR PARKING
Park to the extreme west of the airport, on the grass beside the 07 threshhold. GA kitchen and clubrooms at the North end of the building with verandahs just to the west of the tower.

DEPARTURE

Takeoff on Runway 07: There is a mandatory left turn at the river. Climb out over the river.

Takeoff on 25: Right hand circuit. 

FLY-INS;  Use the grass taxiway, and hold clear of 25. Or if the ground is soft backtrack as a group and up to 8 aircraft can hold in the hard grass turning circle off the eastern end of the grassed runway extension, waiting their turn to line up.

To the South and West
Track towards Muriwai beach not above 2500 ft, and be down to 1500 ft and at sea before passing the golf course at the south end of Muriwai Beach, to use the Te Henga transit zone under the WP approaches. 1500 ft over the sea will keep you clear of all Auckland area airspace restrictions as you vacate to the south.

To the North
Depart not above 2500 ft. Be aware of the Military areas M101 and M103 for weapons firing at the south head of the Kaipara Harbour. To find out when they are active, check the notams or monitor Seagrove FISB 126.8 which repeats at 5mts past each hour, then 15mts, 25mts etc... also, if these areas are active red flags will be visible on the road near the Green Rd corner at Parakai. If not sure, these danger areas can be avoided by keeping to the eastern shore of the harbour and pass to the east of Tapora town.

To the East, and towards North Shore Airfield
Once clear of the circuit to the north, track to Kaukapakapa town to the east and at Kaukapakapa power pylons report vacating to 'Parakai Traffic' area to the east, change to 118.0 and advise intentions to 'North Shore Traffic'.

West Auckland Airport office: Ph 09 420 8010 or 0800FlyWest.

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Local Pilots Notes, for Pilots based at West Auckland/Parakai:

April 2012

Operations and House Rules:

General: Be co-operative with other users of the airport, and if you have a problem then discuss it directly with the other pilots, and if necessary their employer if they are commercial.

If a problem is serious or there are safety implications that you feel should be followed up, then email your concern to the Safety Committee Secretary, Carreen Lockie, email: carreen@lockie.co.nz.

Please do not ask the airport manager to 'referee' a disagreement… it is his job to manage the airport, not the pilots.

Safety Committee: The committee is made up of members of each type of user of the airport. It meets each month to discuss incidents and any matters of concern reported to it, and makes recommendations for changes when thought necessary.

A list of current members of the safety committee, and details of decisions reached, are published on the 'Safety Committee' webpage.

Car Parking: The Safety Committee has recommended that cars no longer be taken 'airside' except when there is a particular reason to do so: such as taking something heavy to the hangars; wanting to leave a car in a hangar overnight; or no space left in the car park.

Any car that is taken airside needs to be driven by the holder of an 'aviation certificate' (pilot, engineer, skydiver etc), or be a person specifically authorised by the Airport management, and all cars that do go through the airside gate are to use their flashing hazard lights.

For normal use, please park in the car park and walk in to the hangars.

Walking on the operational area: Access to the airside is restricted to holders of an 'aviation certificate', or someone closely supervised by them. Anyone going to the runway side of the gravel roadway to the hangars is to wear a Hi-Viz jacket.

Ground vehicles are to stay well away from the runway except when necessary for operations, mowing etc.

Runway: Always turn aircraft at the ends of the runway, most planes cannot turn mid way without hanging a wheel into the grass and risking blocking the runway by getting stuck.

Sequencing into Circuit Traffic: At airports with commercial traffic, it is common practice for private flyers to let commercial traffic go first… they have a schedule to keep to and paying passengers waiting. While this is not always possible it is much appreciated by the commercial operators at Whangarei, North Shore and also at West Auckland Parakai when they get this courtesy. It also relieves pressure on a private pilot not having to land knowing that someone is closing fast behind.

Skydive Status: The longer term plan is to have the parachutes landing further away from the runway so that simultaneous aircraft landings and parachute landings can take place.

Meanwhile, do your best to build up situational awareness for the shared space:
There are 3 Jump planes. KAL, SDF & SDA. They all live outside. If any of them are not in sight on the ground, they're probably skydiving. Additionally, if all 3 are in sight on the ground, you can be fairly sure there is no skydiving at present.

Sometimes the skydive pilots may be busy communicating with ATC. If you do not receive a response then still proceed with caution if you think skydiving may be in progress.

Don't hesitate to ask the skydive pilots or skydive bases by radio for the status of the jumpers.

When arriving by air, ask the skydive pilots (who are all experienced commercial pilots) for the 'skydiving status', and runway in use.

Preparing for Departure: Turn on the radio immediately after starting the engine to build up situational awareness. Do all the checks and run-up clear of the runway, and line up only when ready to roll immediately. Holding near the fuel pumps, or at the North end of taxiway 'B' at the hangars, keeps you well clear while running up. When taking off, climb straight out past the ends of the runway before turning.

Circuit and Arrival: All circuits are to the north, and it is recommended to always join downwind, base or final. Please do not join overhead or from the non-traffic side just in case there is skydiver you're not aware of (we are requesting a change to the AIP to this effect).

The 'runway in use' is often able to be advised by the skydive planes or skydive bases, and wind direction is usually detectable from the toi toi or waves anywhere on the river.

Radio Calls: Make all calls clear and unambiguous so that no one is in any doubt where you are and what you intend doing. This will be excellent practice for visiting the even busier North Shore Airfield, or Ardmore which is the busiest airport in NZ, where vague radio calls are known to draw a hostile response from the Instructors and Unicom.

When about to line up, broadcast intentions 10 seconds or so before you are ready to move, to allow someone on final time to reply.

Topdressing Ops: Commercial pilots flying these operations may sometimes fly a non-standard circuit or take-off downwind, and they are sufficiently skilled to avoid conflict with normal ops and normally don't climb much above 100ft. They will make radio calls so you know what they are doing, and other pilots should continue to fly a normal circuit.

Noise: We want to be good neighbours, so keep noise as low as possible. Those with noisy props should reduce revs to get the tips sub-sonic a.s.a.p. and resume the preferred climb rate once well clear. If doing repetitive flights vary the turning points and flight path. Noisy aircraft may need to fit extra sound reduction gear if quietness can't be achieved operationally.

Gibbs Farm: This is a most interesting property on the eastern side of the Kaipara Harbour about 7 miles North of the Airport. It was recently the subject of a TV show highlighting the property with its amazing collection of large art works. While it is fascinating to view from the air, please be considerate of the Gibbs family and their exotic (and expensive) animals and avoid flying overhead the farm. If you want to admire the art works, fly past off to the side on low prop revs, stay at legal heights, and just make one or two passes.

Facilities:
G.A. clubrooms: are available at no-charge for use by clubs, visiting pilots, and those based on the airport. Clubroom/kitchen is currently at the North end of the old bunkhouse building (to the West of the Tower).

Toilets: are available in the Skydive Auckland Building. They are outside the area covered by their alarm so able to be entered at any time.

FlyWest Flying School Reception, Airport Office and Pilot Briefing Room: with Eftpos are accessible from the Skydive Auckland deck, the box with the key is beside the door, and have a separate alarm with the keypad inside which uses the same number as the keybox. (Get this from Simon if you don't know the number and need access.)

Operational Notes for Skydive Jump Ships:

Once you have lifted off and can safely do so, use noise reduction ops and especially get the prop tips sub-sonic until you are out over the harbour, then back to your preferred climb. If possible ask for an Air Traffic clearance to climb out up the harbour well to the north or west before coming back for the drop, and vary the flight path for consecutive flights.

On descent when running the prop in full fine, watch the revs to make sure the tips are sub-sonic to prevent a loud whine (discuss with Bryn Lockie, engineer at Leading Edge, if unsure about this).

Respond to any traffic radio calls as required to protect your jumpers, and advise the 'runway in use' to aircraft joining (even if you are not using that runway yourself) so they do not feel the need to join overhead to see the windsock. Do the usual radio calls, and if dropping from more than one height advise; "[number] Canopies Away, xx minutes to next drop" or similar so that other traffic knows when it will be safe to join the circuit.

Conform to the circuit direction. Only take off downwind if the wind is so light that the favoured runway is in doubt and there is no-one already in a contrary circuit. Be careful not to push in on other traffic which may be flown by low hours students who need an uninterrupted approach.

West Auckland Airport: Manager: Ph '0800FlyWest'. Airport Office: Ph 09 420 8010.