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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Aug 19, 2012 4:45:45 GMT
We/Our family do "a heck of a lot" of flying each year. Me across the Pacific to the USA .... followed by trans-continental across the USA .... and then trans-Caribbean from the USA and into Colombia .... and return. This time .... both yesterday morning and early this morning too .... was my brothers turn .... SO .... here's a bit of video (with some still shots spliced in-between the various segments) of one of his Auckland/Christchurch sectors .... with AIR NEW ZEALAND and aboard one of our B737-300's which fly New Zealand domestic main trunk routes .... "AKL/CHC .... AIR NZ B737-300 ....MY BROTHERS RIGHT WING VIEWS"www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnJ4hmoNP6c&feature=youtu.beThe recorded flight track follows the 169 radial between Auckland and Ohura .... to pick up the 179 radial from Ohura .... tracking down the rugged western shores of New Zealand's hilly North Island ... then over the turbulent Cook Straight (one of the worlds most notoriously rough stretches of water) .... to make landfall between Blenheim and Nelson at the top of New Zeland's South Island .... and then continuing on a roughly 169*/170* (degree) heading to pass between the snow capped Seaward and inland Kaikoura mountain ranges .... to eventually reach the flat green pastures of Christchurch which are fringed, in the distance, the snowy Southern Alps on the west coast of New Zealands South Island. A chart distance of approximately 471 miles .... point to point .... with a flight/air time of approximately 50 minutes. Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by almguy1 on Aug 19, 2012 18:18:36 GMT
Nice Video Mark reminds me of my 1988 AKL/CHC trip. I only had a huge clunker VHS camcorder with me then over the land of the long white cloud.
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Aug 19, 2012 21:13:42 GMT
What must be remembered here is .... Whatever ones sees within the virtual world FS program .... versus how it actually looks within the "real world" are/can be 2 very distinctly different observations. For starters .... To get a real appreciation/feel for both the geography and topography of New Zealand one needs to have decent Mesh Terrain scenery files installed .... along with the associated Land Class texture/scenery files also. The default MSFS reproduction of New Zealand is "PARTICULARLY POOR" (to say the very least) .... in terms of both geography and topography .... but .... one's perhaps got to expect that of MS and for such an isolated/possibly less relevent part of the world like New Zealand. There are 20 meter, 40 meter, 75 meter, and 150 meter mesh terrain files available for FS enhancement .... by Christian STOCK aka "The Red Baron". These files are "VERY ACCURATE" .... and do transform the default MSFS rendered New Zealand environment into what it should be (given certain FS limitations of course) .... and along the lines of what's visible in my brother videos and as I've described within my accompanying notes. These STOCK/"The Red Baron" mesh terrain files are for FS2004 (only) .... so far as I'm aware. They aren't free though and did need to be purchased ($) from GEOGRAPHX NEW ZEALAND .... as I recall. There is a "FREE" FSX specific mesh terrain representation of New Zealand which is available from SIMVIATION.COM .... as follows .... .... but .... I can't vouch for its accuracy. So far as I'm aware this particular file doesn't include Land Class data whereas most of the STOCK/"The Red Baron" scenery files do. Although there are other LC scenery file options available for New Zealand, and for both FS2004 and FSX, again, I can't vouch for the accuracy of any of these either. It's one thing to have an accurate FS terrain mesh .... but .... it's something else again to have it looking right/the way it should all look without good LC or other scenery texture enhancement. It must be remembered that New Zeasland "IS" comprised of very unique type of geography and has a clean and green environmental appearance .... all-year-round .... therefore not all global type LC scenery texture enhancements for FS are really appropriate for a virtual New Zealand environment within FS. Apart from LC files contained within some of the FS2004 STOCK/"The Red Baron" supplied mesh terrain scenery files .... the only global FS texture enhancement, which I've seen personally, to date, and that comes anywhere close to accurately representing the unique New Zealand environment .... "AS IT SHOULD LOOK" .... are the 2 FS2004 global scenery enhancement upgrades by Lennart ARVIDSSON (I think his name is) and which do almost "NAIL IT". Whether or not ARVIDSSON has ever done anything similar for FSX .... I know not !!!! In regard to AKL/CHC routings .... There are basically 3 route options available for AKL/CHC services .... and per the "official NZ CAA/Airways Corporation Corporation published charts". If using old fashioned VOR to VOR and NDB type navigation procedures then these routing options are as follows .... 1. AKL/CHC .... via airways H384, H252, and V288 (according to my charts dated "September 2001")AUCKLAND/NEW PLYMOUTH - VOR 114.80 - 174* (radial) NEW PLYMOUTH/NELSON - 114.40/NDB 370 - 177* (radial) NELSON/CHRISTCHURCH - 116.40/NDB 210 - 174* (radial) CHRISTCHURCH - VOR 115.30 CHC RWY 20 ILS - 110-30 - 198* (radial) - WOODEND NDB 262 CHC RWY 02 ILS - 109-90 - 017* (radial) - BURNHAM NDB 274 2. AKL/CHC .... via airways H384 and V175 (same chart as above)AUCKLAND/OHURA - VOR 114.80 - 160* (radial) OHURA/CHRISTCHURCH (direct) - 113.00 - 179* (radial) CHRISTCHURCH - VOR 115.30 CHC RWY 20 ILS - 110-30 - 198* (radial) - WOODEND NDB 262 CHC RWY 02 ILS - 109-90 - 017* (radial) - BURNHAM NDB 274 3. AKL/CHC .... via airways H384, H126, and V288 (same chart as above)AUCKLAND/OHURA - VOR 114.80 - 160* (radial) OHURA/NELSON - 113.00 - 165* (radial) NELSON/CHRISTCHURCH - 116.40 - 174* (radial) CHRISTCHURCH - VOR 115.30 CHC RWY 20 ILS - 110-30 - 198* (radial) - WOODEND NDB 262 CHC RWY 02 ILS - 109-90 - 017* (radial) - BURNHAM NDB 274 That (above) is about the best I can recommend/advise. Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by Alejandro on Aug 20, 2012 1:35:22 GMT
When I made my PBY-5 in the Sunbird Services livery (pby5ah66.zip), I tested it on the New Guinea scenaries, and the distorsion in some volcanic islands was amaziling crazy. It's not the same to see a volcanic cone with terraces and sheers than three adjacent points joined with straight lines. The coloring are shamefull too. The Canarias Island, for example, are represented with ecuatorial green and coconuts terrain, when in true they are burned brown and black, with patches of european-like vegetation.
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Aug 21, 2012 3:17:33 GMT
Just for the sake of interest ("IF" there is any ;D) .... and since it was touched upon by me yesterday .... the subject of New Zealand geography, mesh terain, and scenery texture/land class files for FS .... "IF" one was to take a real-world flight from Auckland to Chrischurch .... following essentially the same route as that portrayed within my brothers video (link provided above) .... then using the recommended New Zealand mesh terrain (20 meters in my case), land class, and scenery texture files (a mixture of both Christian STOCK and Lennart ARVIDSSON data in my particular case) .... the following FS imagery represents what one would/should, normally, see along this route, but, from an virtual-world FS perspective .... Departure from AKL International Airport RWY 05R (the airport is visible in the upper middle of this view) via the Whitford NDB .... climbing to FL310 over the South Auckland suburbs and turning right to a heading of 194* to intercpet the 174* radial ex AKL VOR and track airway H384 toward the New Plymouth VOR .... FL310 .... tracking the 174* radial ex AKL VOR and approaching the New Plymouth coastline (the airport at New Plymouth is visible near the shoreline at the bottom middle of this view) .... Mt.Taranaki (the higest peak in New Zealand's North Island) is coming into view in the distance .... FL310 .... passing over Mt.Taranaki (partially consealed below a layer of light cirrus cloud today ) .... and tracking the 174* radial ex AKL VOR prior to intercepting the 177* radial ex New Plymouth VOR .... to track toward the Nelson VOR along airway H252 .... FL310 .... tracking the 177* radial ex New Plymouth VOR .... crossing Cook Straight and approaching the Nelson shoreline at the top of New Zealand's south Island .... FL310 .... passing over Nelson (the airport at Nelson is visible at the bottom center middle of this view) and about to intercept the 174* radial ex Nelson VOR .... to track toward the Christchurch VOR along airway V288 .... FL310 .... tracking the 174* radial ex Nelson VOR .... passing near the Richmond Range/Mt.Richmond Forrest Park .... approximately 100 DME from Christchurch and nearing TOD .... Tracking the 174* radial ex Nelson VOR .... passing near the Inland kaikoura Range .... descending toward Christchurch .... Descending toward Christchurch .... tracking the 174* radial ex Nelson VOR .... passing near the Amuri Range near Hanmer Springs National Park .... Descending toward Christchurch .... nearing north Canturbury .... tracking the 174* radial ex Nelson VOR toward Christchurch .... passing near the Lowry Peaks and Hanmer River (the airport at Hanmer Springs is visible near the bottom right in this view) .... Passing over Pegasus Bay along the north Canturbury shoreline .... 3000 FT and nearing the Woodend NDB prior to commencing the approach toward CHC INTL Airport RWY 20 .... Approaching RWY 20 CHC INTL Airport .... about to cross the Waimakerere River .... backdropped by the broard Canturbury plains .... Other scenery add-on files are available to "even further enhance" .... to almost photo-real quality .... the entire Christchurch region and other locations throughout New Zealand .... each of which feature their own destinctive geographic characteristics. Most of these other FS sceneries include land class as well as other topographical data too .... but .... "ARE NOT" FS freeware Possibly the very best of these other/additional New Zealand scenery upgrades for FS are those written by Robin CORN. "From what I've seen/observed" .... these files "seem", to me, to do a marvelous job of representing each of the regions they are intended to depict. In any case .... "IF" one has the recommended mesh terrain and associated land class/texture files .... then what I've presented (above) is, at the very least, what one should be seeing .... and which is "pretty accurate" in terms of its geographic integrety .... approximating what one would see/can expect to see of New Zealand, from FL310, on such a flight, and at around this time of year (winter) also. Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Aug 21, 2012 20:54:41 GMT
That's "CORRECT" .... since New Zealand, being a Southern Hemisphere country, has 4 seasons at the opposite time of year from those in the Northern hemisphere. The amount of snow one sees on the mountains during winter the season will also be governed by whatever's written into ones scenery files of choice .... in terms of texture/land class scenery code etc. That which is visible in my imagery (above) is what's written into the FS2004 files I use .... and .... I did make 1 other non-standard scenery/texture alteration too .... in that I also applied a "REAL FOREST" scenery texture file upgrade (not sure where I got that) .... because it created the right look of "thick vibrant dark green Forest" which is so typical of the New Zealand landscape throughout both islands. I installed my 20 meter New Zealand mesh terrain files inside the FS2004 ADDON SCENERY folder (a standard procedure).... this mesh being installed inside a folder which I named "NEW ZEALAND 20" .... which has the standard "SCENERY" sub folder containing all necessary BGL files .... but .... I also then added another separate sub folder named "TEXTURE" .... into which I added my "REAL FORREST" texture BMP files. I did everything this way because whilst these particular forest textures are very good for the New Zealand environment they are not, necessarily, so appropriate for other world environments. I didn't want to install this particular forest texture upgrade inside any of the principle FS2004 SCENERY/TEXTURE folders .... which would, then, result in all my default FS2004 scenery supporting the very same degree of forest texturing also. Where possible .... I like to try to create the "right environmental look" for various parts of the world .... by adding the appropriate texture file data in the manner described. It/That works very well .... to my liking at least ! Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Sept 10, 2012 7:27:42 GMT
I've been meaning to extend my New Zealand scenery theme, but, simply haven't had time to do so .... before now .... SO .... here's the first in a selection of several classic New Zealand tourist destinations which I plan on presenting using FS2004 .... MILFORD SOUND/FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND.It's extremly remote and has got to be one of the most pristine and beautiful spots anywhere within New Zealand's South Island .... if one is lucky enough to visit/strike it on those 1 or 2 days of each week throughout the year when it's not raining there. It's Milford Sound, located withing the Fiordland National Park region on the lower south western shoreline of New Zealand's south Island. It may also, possibly, be considered one of the most difficult/challenging places to fly into anywhere within New Zealand .... which, due to the restrictions imposed by its surrounding terrain/geography is something, perhaps, best described as akin to being "stuck between a rock and a very hard place" .... litterally ;D None-the-less .... the Fiordland National does have a small aerodrome located at Milford Sound. This is serviced mostly by the like of BN ISLANDER aircraft (at the largest .... although a DHC6 TWIN OTTER/T'WOTTER was based here several years ago) operated by MILDORD SOUND FLIGHTSEEING which flies tourists in an out of this beautiful alpine region from Queenstown .... subject to prevailing weather conditions. Here's a few FS images using Christian STOCK's 20 meter mesh terrain scenery for New Zealand (only available from GEOGRAFIX NZ LTD, and which, unfortunately, "is not" freeware .... although similar freeware mesh terrain files scenery upgrade files for New Zealand may be procured from elsewhere) .... enhanced by Lennart ARVIDSSON's FS2004 scenery texture upgrade files (which are "absolutely ideal" for New Zealand), along with my other personal favourates in the form of both scenery and environmental upgrades .... both "PERFECT SKY" and "PERFECT WATER" .... none of which are new files by any stretch of the imagination, but, each of which are still, IMHO, "very appropriate" in order to accurately replicate the real world geography of both New Zealand within the vitual FS world .... Approaching RWY 29 .... through valleys of the mighty Southern Alps .... and which "IS" one of the published NZ Airways Corporation certified air routes into Milford Sound from the east/north east. Mount Philip and Sinbad Gully are visible ahead along with the aerodrome .... backdropped by the distinctive shape of Mitre Peak which is a classic Milford Sound icon .... RWY 29 .... facing Mount Phillip, the Sound, Sinbad Gully and the majestic/iconic Mitre Peak .... the Lion and Cascade Peaks are both visible to the right. About to depart to the northwest and intending to follow the main channel down Milford Sound toward the Tasman Sea and west coast of New Zealands South Island. Again .... this's another published airways route .... and one that's easier, but still, every bit as geographically confined as that flying the RWY 29 approach into Milford Sound through valleys of the Southern Alps and from the east/north east .... A RWY 11 departure .... flying out of Milford Sound to the south-southeast and toward Sheerdown Peak, The Chasm, and Mount Isolation can be an equally daunting prospect. A number of valleys branch off to the left and right of this published departure route .... BUT .... in the event one should fail to follow published procedures and then stray into "the wrong valley" .... then the consequences may be considered akin to running into a brick wall with equally catastrophic/fatal results .... as these valleys offer little, if any, margin for error/s .... Entering Milford Sound over Saint Anne point from the west coast and Tasman Sea is a much easier prospect .... BUT AGAIN .... one needs to approach RWY 11 with precision. A missed approach/go-around requires equal caution due to restrictions imposed by the surrounding terrain .... which rises well in excess of 2,500 FT on either side of this very narrow channel inlet approach toward the small Milford Sound Aerodrome. One must be properly set up for "a good approach to landing" at a fairly early stage .... or .... decide "not to land" and carry out the appropriate missed approach procedure well before arriving near the RWY 11 threshold and whilst one still has sufficient space within which to manouver inside the confines the bay that broadens slightly between Mitre Peak and the aerodrome .... Airport = Mount Sound Aerodrome/NZMF RWY = 11/29 - 792 X 16 m VOR= N/A NDB = N/A ILS = N/A LIGHTING = N/A
NZCAA NOTAMSMark C AKL/NZ
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Sept 11, 2012 10:23:51 GMT
MOUNT COOK AERODROME/NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND.It's by no means as isolated or confined as Milford Sound (above presentation) .... but .... it's none-the-less as scenic/picturesque .... being surrounded by geography that impresses as well as imposes its own unique aviation challenges. It's the Mount Cook Aerodrome and National Park .... located within the mighty Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island. This's another major New Zealand tourist mecca .... popular among both foreign and domestic visitors for its winter skiing and other year-round alpine adventure activities. Most tourists pass through Mount Cook on coach tours en route to Queenstown from Christchurch .... stopping for a superb, pre-paid, buffet lunch at the Mount Cook Hermitage Hotel .... and/or .... an opprtunity to enjot the thrill of a magnificent/never-to-be-forgotten flight-seeing experience over the mountains and glaciers of this intensely beautiful alpine region .... before proceeding on to Queenstown. Mount Cook is also the name and location of New Zealand's highest mountain .... "MOUNT COOK" .... named after British navigator/explorer Captain James COOK (although he didn't actually sight the mountain) whom rediscovered New Zealand during the late 1700's and claimed it for the British crown, after its first having been discovered and settled by Polynesian migrants during pre-European Pacific times, as well as its also having been previously rediscovered and "partially charted" by the Dutch (Abel TASMAN) during the 1600's. This majestic twin peaked mountain is the crown of New Zealand's Southern Alps and is also known, locally, by its Maori name "AORAKI" .... meaning "CLOUD PIERCER". It rises to an altitude of some 12,349 FT. This presentation once again uses Christian STOCK's 20 meter mesh terrain scenery for New Zealand (available only from GEOGRAFIX NZ LTD) .... supported also by Lennart ARVIDSSON's texture upgrades, and both PERFECT SKY and PERFECT WATER environment/texture upgrades for FS2004. RWY 31 .... represents a reasonably challenging departure to the north west .... towards the Southern Alps/Mount Cook Range .... requiring a fairly sharp right turn, after T/O, in order to ensure terrain sepatation and follow more easily navigable mountain passes and both Tasman and Murchison Glaciers to the northeast of Mount Cook. The twin-peaked Mount COOK/Aoraki is visible at the extreme right of this view. As well as small retractable ski-equipped CESSNA 185 and PILATUS TURBO PORTER aircraft which actually land on undulating glaciers and snow covered slopes of the Mount Cook National Park .... Mount Cook Aerodrome has also been serviced by BAe/HS748 turboprop aircraft which were operated on a daily schedule by MOUNT COOK AIRLINES until the late 1990's .... and more recently .... by ATR72 and BEECH 1900D turboprops operated by AIR NEW ZEALAND and normally from Christchurch. Approaching Mount Cook/Aoraki and the Tasman Valley .... from the direction of Lake Pukaki and the Mount Cook Aerodrome to the south-southeast .... Flying northeast and entering the Tasman Valley and glacier region .... where retractable ski-equipped PILATUS TURBO PORTER aircraft (from Mount Cook Aerodrome .... and also nearby Glentanner Aerodrome) actually land on a number of designated glacier and mountain slope locations .... Continuing northeast and passing both Tasman and Murchison Glaciers .... separated by the Mount Johnson .... Passing below the north western summit of Mount Cook/Aoraki .... Turning south-southwest and descending down the Hooker Glacier located between the southern face of Mount Cook/Aoraki and the Westland National Park .... Leaving the glacier region and flying south-southeast to entering the Hooker valley and the approach to Mount Cook Aerodrome RWY 13 .... Airport = Mount Cook Aerodrome/NZMC RWY = 13/31 - 1572 X 14.3 m VOR= N/A NDB = N/A ILS = N/A
NZCAA NOTAMS Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Sept 15, 2012 0:17:34 GMT
QUEENSTOWN/LAKE WAKATIPU, SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND.If Milford Sound/Fijordland National Park is the show case example of unspoilt New Zealand natural beauty .... and Mount Cook is the crown of the countries alpine scenic wonderland region ... then the picturesque serenety of Queenstown/Lake Wakatipu must be regarded as "a jewel of the crown" in regard to premier New Zealand tourist destinations. Located within the Otago district and southeastern chain of the mighty Southern Alps .... the compact and "picture-postcard-perfect" township of Queenstown (boasting some of New Zealand's finest cafes, bars, restaurants, shopping, and other seasonal recreational fascilities .... including the steamship "EARNSLAW" which continues to ply the lake to the thrill and enjoyment of visitors) is nestled inside a glacier valley situated on the central northeastern shoreline of pristine Lake Wakatipu .... surrounded by some of the South Island's most majestic/impressive mountain scenery. Queenstown is a gateway to the Southern Lakes District, and the Milford Sound/Fiordland, Mount Aspiring, and Mount Cook National Parks .... all of which are in relatively close proximity to each other. After Christchurch it's "the most popular" South Island tourist detination for both foreigh and domestic travellers alike .... especially during winter months when Coronet Peak and The Remarkables Mountain Range provide some of the best skiing fascilities available anywhere within the South Island and possibly New Zealand. Once again .... the following presentation uses Christian STOCK's 20 meter mesh terrain scenery for New Zealand (availble only from GEOGRAFIX NEW ZEALAND LTD) .... supported by Lennart ARVIDSSON's texture/scenery upgrades, along with both PERFECT SKY and PERFECT WATER evironment upgrades .... all for FS2004. The approach to RWY 23 at Queenstown Airport, from the north, requires descent through relatively confined mountain passes bordering the Southern Alps .... whilst approach to the opposing RWY 05, over Lake Wakatipu, from the south, is less geographically restricted .... unless flown from the southeast which requires some manouvering to ensure adequate terrain separation. Within any such confined alpine environment, where there's strong interaction between both geography and meteorology, it's needless to say that the associated turbulence is often "quite severe" .... and is common throughout New zealand's South Island in particular. Queenstown Airport is serviced by BEECH 1900D and ATR72 turboprops .... along with B737-300 jetliners operated by AIR NEW ZEALAND .... and A320 jetliners operated by JETSTAR on New Zealand domestic trunk routes. BN ISLANDER and CESSNA 172/206 aircraft are operated by ASPIRING AIR, GLENORCHY AIR, and MILFORD SOUND FLIGHTSEEING on local/regional Southland services. Regular international services to and from both Sydney and Melbourne Australia are operated by JETSTAR A320 jetliners .... with seasonal international services linking Queenstown with both Brisbane and Melbourne Australia being operated by AIR NEW ZEALAND, QANTAS AIRWAYS, and VIRGIN AUSTRALIA B737-300 and -800 jetliners .... In addition to its main 05/23 ashphalt RWY Queenstown Airport features 2 grass strips .... in the form of a very short 05/23 field running paralell to the main 05/23 RWY and which is used primarilly for GLIDER and MICROLIGHT activities .... along with an intersecting 14/32 RWY which is available for general LIGHT AIRCRAFT traffic .... The deep glacial Lake Wakatipu has a length exceeding some 55 miles and which conforms roughly to the shape a letter "Z". It's the 3rd largest lake in New Zealand and has an elevation of some 1,100 FT ASL with an average depth of some 750 FT. Flying southwest and following the Lake Wakatipu shoreline .... Mount Turnbull appears to the left .... backdropped by the Thompson Mountain Range in the distance .... and White Point visible to the right .... Turning northwest and flying toward the shoreline settlement of Glenorchy .... Pio and Pigeon Islands are visible ahead .... backdropped by distant mountain peaks of the Mount Aspiring National Park .... with the Thomspon Mountain Range appearing to the left and the Richardson Mountain Range visible to the right .... Continuing north-northwest toward Glenorchy .... the Humbolt Mountain Range appears to the left .... with Mount Aspiring National Park visible ahead .... Nearing the north-northwestern extremety of Lake Wakatipu (where the lake meets the mountains and the Wakatipu River) .... backdropped by beautiful Mount Aspiring National Park .... Backtracking toward Queenstown and the north-northeastern extremety of Lake Wakatipu .... Mount Chricton and Ben Lomond Scenic Reserves appear to the left .... The Remakables Mountain Range is ahead in the distance .... with lower slopes of Walter Peak/Walter Station is visible to the right .... Turning right and reaching the extremety of Lake Wakatipu's south-southeastern branch .... the shoreline settlement of Kingston (famous for its "Kingston Flyer" steam train) is just ahead .... backdropped by the Eyre Moiuntains .... with the Hector Mountain Range appearing to the left and lower slopes of the Mount thingy Scenic Reserve visible to the right .... Backtracking once again and returning north-northwest toward Queenstown .... Kelvyn Heights appears directly ahead and is backdropped by Coronet Peak, Mount Marsden, and Malings Peak in the distance .... with the western face of The Remarkables Mountain Range visible ahead and to the right .... Continuing north-northwest toward Queenstown .... passing the western summit of The Remarkables Mountain Range (named by early settlers not so much for their imposing/impressive scenic beauty, but rather, for the beautiful colours exhibited by their snow covered peaks/slopes when reflecting the yellow/orange/pink afterglow of sunsets during southern winter months) .... Airport = Queenstown Airport/NZQN RWY = 05/23 - 1891 X 30 m RWY = 05/23 - 800 X 40 m (grass) RWY = 14/32 - 944 X 60 m (grass) VOR= SLOPE HILL 113.60 (displaced) NDB = N/A ILS = N/A
NZCAA NOTAMS Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by Herman on Sept 15, 2012 15:52:17 GMT
Great scenery,great images and marvelous and detailed geographic description. Would be ideal for a New Zealand travel brochure. Herman
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Sept 15, 2012 20:06:05 GMT
That's correct ! Operations into NZQN/Queenstown are restricted to "daylight hours" only .... 30 minutes after/before the hours of official "sunrise/sunset" respectively .... I think it is. We had some controversey down here recently .... which resulted in the crew of a "non-New Zealaned owned/registered" jet operator "initially" being reprimanded by the NZ CAA for breaching these procedures .... by around some 20 minutes I think I believe. As the story unfolded .... it was eventually revealed that the crew, well aware of their situation, had requested and obtained from their airline, a written dispensation authorizing the flight to proceed (otherwise the flight would have been cancelled, the PAX all put up in hotels at the carriers own expense, and the following days SKED for that particular aircraft then "screwed completly"), and which resulted in culpability inevitably being levelled at the flight operations department of this "this particular airline". You just "hit the nail right on the head" buddy FS .... in terms of its image making capacity .... can be used in so many different ways .... ranging from airline/aircraft history (which was the purpose behind my articles posted on the AIRCRAFT HISTORIES forum page) .... and/or .... even being used to present/get know a place "in the most basic sence", as well as educating people a little about some of some these places too .... especially when the accuracy of most of supporting mesh terrain results in "very identifiable/authentically recognizeable" geographic features .... as "IS" the case in this particular case. I remind anyone interested that the particular 20 meter New Zealand mesh terrain I use (produced by GEOGRAFIX NZ LTD for TV NZ weather presentations I believe .... and then adapted for FS by Christian STOCK/THE RED BARON) "is not" freeware .... HOWEVER .... as I've also mentioned earlier within this thread .... other "freeware" versions of this same mesh "ARE" available and which are almost as good. I produced a series of these "New Zealand oriented presentations/FS tours (and one for Colombia as well) .... covering both North and South Islands .... earlier this year, but, for the imposition of some recent and unforseen circumstances, I've only, just now, had time to start posting these. My brothers recent trip to NZCH/Christchurch .... along with his "RIGHT WING VIEWS" video (above) .... seemed to provide the right incentive for me to start doing so now. More to follow in due course .... as and when/"IF" I get time Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Sept 16, 2012 21:39:05 GMT
You probably mean "CONFINED/RESTRICTED" (in terms of its geography) rather than "dangerous" It's really the unique combination of geographical and meteorological interactions/factors which determine this airports difficulty level. Queenstown Airport is certainly confined/restricted (though not as much as Milford Sound or Mount Cook) .... and commercial pilots, flying larger category aircraft types, do need being trained in order to be licensed to fly into Queenstown (and Milford Sound too), but, I wouldn't regard the airport, or its approaches, as being "DANGEROUS" .... simply because if crews are well trained, and on their toes, as well as being very well disciplined too, then there's really no major issues other than the weather .... which has, in the the past, caused go-arounds .... and even diversions too .... BUT THEN AGAIN .... that's the safest thing to do sometimes .... I guess. One can experience/see a typical flight into Queenstown (on a good day) per the following video/documentary .... made, and narrated by, my colleague Paul BRENNAN (Paul and I have worked together on a couple of similar aviation video productions in the past) .... relating to an AIR NEW ZEALAND B737-200 (when we still had these aircraft) during the late 1990's .... additionally narrated by the captain flying the aircraft. Part 1www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWau2l15CEAPart 2www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdbYXosWJ4sPart 3www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDGrMI_iaeQWatch for the captains comment at the very end of "PART 3" ;D Once again .... Queenstown isn't a problem/dangerous airport. One's just got to be "alert" .... and above all "COMPETENT" in order to go in, and out of, there Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by Mike Monce - HJG on Sept 17, 2012 19:01:39 GMT
So I'm trying to find Gandalf and the Hobbits trekking around those mountains, but can't seem to spot them. ;D Mike
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Sept 17, 2012 19:50:51 GMT
You might need the "LOTR MIDDLE EARTH" scenery for that one Mike Or failing that .... I'll have a word with director Peter JACKSON .... on your behalf .... to ask if he can possibly work up some form of additional animations/features for a scenery based add-on/program "especially for you" ;D Maybe even including KING KONG on the Auckland Sky Tower (or on the Bee Hive/Parliament building .... since they could do with a "stir-up" down there) .... being buzzed by the JACKSON AIR FORCE (he own s a collection of vintage WW1 aircraft) "PRECISELY" .... Media Sensationalism Aharon NZQN is fine .... and so are the others too .... "IF" everybody plays the game "accorduing to the rules". Mark C AKL/NZ
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