I remember my first time flying into Queestown on a Qantas flight from Christchurch 2004 was a circuit approach. It had me thinking, how the hell are we going to get this thing on the ground from such a great height, then the circling began absolutely spectacular.
Really awesome! On the charts I can see that this is part of the missed approach procedure from rwy 23. If a go around is initiated, then the aircraft will turn south into Lake Wakatipu, left again to the north passing by the Remarkables, then turning right near Arrowtown, and then a non-precision approach back to 23.
I lived and worked next to ZQN for three years and watched many commercial jets land there. This "circuit approach" was used to allow aircraft flying in from the north to descend in a controlled manner. It included a loop around Lake Hayes as was shown on the video. The Remarkables rise to over 6,000 feet and present a significant challenge to overfly in such a narrow space.
On December, that same year, I spent 4 days in Queenstown, but the approach for the same airport, we hugged the mountains. What an awesome place. Covid has prevented me to return for even a longer stay. Thanks for the video.
I flew from AKL to ZQN in 2018 but was seated on the opposite side but flew somewhat straight in hugging those huge mountains. What a beautiful place and great town, calm place. Planned to go back in 2019, but it wasn't to be.
Definitely the luck of the drawer with which side you sit and with which flight path in they choose. Absolutely go back again when covid issues are resolved and safe to do so!
Magnificent...Can’t wait to get back again. Visited Queenstown a few times...and although I live in Australia these days I was born just up the road a bit in Cromwell. Love NZ and Queenstown...
Once upon a time (15 Years ago) this would have been the normal approach into NZQN: a visual circuit in the Queenstown basin over Lake Hayes to lose altitude. These days the approaches are all straight-in RNP procedures (using GPS and inertial reference systems), either into runway 23 through the mountains, or to runway 05 over lake Wakatipu. I am guessing that your flight would have been on an RNP approach to RWY 05 and then was given a runway change to 23. The easiest option in this case - weather permitting - would be to do a missed approach and then a visual circuit to runway 23, as we see here. Quite a rarity these days. Often the basin is covered in cloud so a more long-winded re-routing onto the RNP approach to 23 would have been required, which would have added a good 10 minutes extra to the flight.
You wait outside the terminal for the bus, or hire car pick up. Just sitting in the Sun, looking at the Remarkables and thinking " I'll just stay here".
What a fantastic flight, and of the flying professionalism from the flight officers of Air NZ. Firstly, to hear both mid undercarriages hit the runway , literally, at the same time shows professionalism by those flying it. As a senior NZ Tour Guide, firstly for a large US Tour Company for 9 years, and for the past 6 years for a large, and very well respected UK Tour Company, I have done this trip countless times. This approach would have to be one of the most spectacular in NZ. As you approach the runway you can, literally, reach out and touch the hills. Even more spectacular when there is snow on the mountains. It's amazing. If you're thinking of flying into Queenstown, try and get a daylight flight that gives you this experience. You won't regret it. To the Air NZ Tech Crew (Pilots), I thank you for your skills. You are awesome. FYI, as I've had confirmed, the Pilot that does the in-flight commentary, is normally the one flying the aircraft for that sector. Hopefully I'll be back tour-guiding for the Brits early in 2022. In the meantime, I'm exploring my NZ options. Be well, Fly safe. Graham
That sounds like an amazing job. I currently live in Dunedin, NZ and have been considering a career change for a while. I've done my share of international travel but have always booked my own flights (as opposed to using a travel agency) and have never been part of a tour group so I'm unfamiliar with your profession. If it's not too much trouble, would you mind pointing me in the direction of where I can find out more?
Took off from this airport with Jetstar. Doors sealed, taxiing down the runway , no chance of yelling “I’ve forgotten my toothbrush, let me off”, the Captain announced “a turbulent ten minutes until we head north”. The scariest ten minutes of my life. The wing tips I swear were almost touching the peaks ten minutes later. The aircraft was shaking and I am sure was not conforming to aeronautical physics. Funny people the Kiwis, they seem to think this is the onboard entertainment and treated it as if it was a day at the fairground ,which was reassuring . Total respect to the Captain and crew.
Thanks for the entertaining story! Indeed, the mountainous terrain has made for some very turbulent flights for me over the years to and from Queestown!
Thought that was pretty normal given the terrain. That’s how we came in when we landed there. Good photography, no shaking. Must have had a super clean window....but then it is ANZ 😊
Wow awesome video and that scenery 😍 you are so lucky to live in such a beautiful country I have witnessed it for myself during a months tour with my nephew back in 2019, stunning country and such friendly people. Thumbs up,liked and subscribed 👍🇬🇧
Nice play on Remarkable! Really enjoyed seeing Queenstown & the incredible scenery again. Hope to return some day when we can travel. We’re in Ireland but have visited NZ twice; next to Ireland of course, it’s the most beautiful country I’ve ever been to , particularly Fjordland & Milford
Flew out to the west, then went down south arm of Wakatipu, then came round behind Cecil Peak and then headed up over Walter Peak, Wanaka and onto CHC AND a cloudless glorious day...
It must be an amazing place to live. The scenery and photographic opportunities are immense. Any scenery from Lord of the Rings used in the movie close by?
We are hoping to come over to Queenstown in September from Australia if the borders are open for us. We visit Queenstown every year for a week's stay at the Mercure Resort. Favest place in the world for our holiday.
We took a trip to queenstown last year, unfortunately the landing was the roughest I've ever experienced in my whole 20yr long flying history, is it normal there?
It can be if you’re unlucky. The air swirling around the mountains can make it turbulent and the short runway means pilots have to put it down with commitment, but this is more the exception than the rule.
Looking at final from downwind, it appears to be straight down the mountain, although in reality the final leg seemed routine. Talk about energy management, STOL A320. Are instrument approaches possible here? I didn’t see an ILS.
@@globe255 not with the new hydrogen tech coming out, no compressed hydrogen needed to fuel electric motors or turbines. Battery power is just a phase before hydrogen become main stream.
@@jasonjohnstone686 In the future, moving parts both in the air and the ground will be controlled by satellites. All energy will be created from devices in the air. The energy will be returned from the devices to the satellites, by the satellites. The principle is: Why store energy in the devices when they aren't in use?
Me promising an Airbus A320 passenger jet doing a loop is unrealistic, I meant loop in the context of a racecar doing a loop around a racetrack. I have updated the title nonetheless
fliteshare I've been retired for many years now but flew many Queenstown flights in from Sydney and Christchurch, using this procedure. Hardly a 'Loop', more accurately a 'circling approach in VMC'. Always very challenging for the flight crews and (if you had time to look outside the aircraft, very spectacular!!
Lol. While the aircraft is probably capable of a 'loop' even with their seat belts 'on' I don't think anyone on board would want to look outside and enjoy the scenery. Okay for a roller coaster but not okay for a landing approach. 😉 I think I for one am happy to live with misapplication of the term 'loop' for a 'circuit/circling approach . 👍 Enjoyed the video.
Based on your name and thumbnail, I would have expected you to know that "loop" has a very clear definition when used in aviation. When preceded by the word "stunning", I foolishly was expecting a "loop". Nice, but not quite stunning scenery, and there are no loops in this video.
Me promising a loop from an Airbus A320 passenger jet wasn’t intended, it was meant in the context of a racecar doing a loop around a racetrack. Nevertheless I have updated the title.
