The council and the authority have been working on achieving certification for many years, as private and commercial air traffic at Wānaka continues to grow.
Next year, a non-Warbirds Over Wānaka International Airshow year, the uncertified airport is expected to receive about 50,000 aircraft movements.
In September, the council voted to set aside $5.9million for Wānaka Airport capital upgrades in its long-term plan, with the bulk of that to be spent between 2026-29.
Things to do before July 2027 include tree removal, airstrip widening, new fencing to improve safe access to the airstrip, and improvements to safety systems.
Wānaka Airport Users Group chairman Don Grant said yesterday the council and newly appointed property manager Roger Davidson met 30 operators on Thursday to outline the certification process.
There are 97 members of the users group, and from a day-to-day point of view certification would not have a huge effect ‘‘because 97% of it is general aviation, helicopters and scenic flights and things like that’’, Mr Grant said.
‘‘What has happened is the CAA has told the QLDC they have to bring [Wānaka Airport] up to a certain quality standard over the next three years.
‘‘This is not a big concern for us, so long as we are consulted early on ... and it was really nice to see we were being consulted so early on,’’ Mr Grant said.
Warbirds Over Wānaka international airshow general manager Ed Taylor said the airshow welcomed the council’s intention to involve all stakeholders in the certification process.
The airshow had been an airport user since 1988 and had noticed plenty of change over time.
“When the first airshow was held there was just one hangar on the airfield; now there are many, many more housing many different aviation enterprises. The airshow has been the one constant as businesses and air services have come and gone,” Mr Taylor said.
The airshow would be keen to work with the council and QAC over the next few years as the aerodrome changes were implemented.
“We have no intention of trying to hold back development of the airport.
‘‘We just want to be part of council’s plan so we can continue to deliver New Zealand’s premier airshow in the new airport environment,” Mr Taylor said.
The 2024 Easter airshow pumped more than $40m into the regional economy and over the life of the event the economic benefit has been estimated to be around $300m.
QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said the certification review was ‘‘an important, logical and necessary step in our responsible ownership of an increasingly busy airport ... one of the busiest uncertified airports in Aotearoa New Zealand”.
Certification will bring Wānaka Airport into line with similar facilities around New Zealand.
