24/4/11 Te Kowhai Fence - Eastern Runway extension.

The fence at the eastern end has come down, (yay!) giving an extra 300 metres of runway, nearly 1000 in total. However only the middle portion of the old fence was removed, leaving some 15 metres or so of fence either side of the runway. I feel that this portion of fence is a danger should an aircraft leave the side of the runway for whatever reason. I have raised this concern with Max Clear to no avail.

It is now up to the PinC to weigh up the risk of running off the side of the runway during takeoff or landing and coliding with the fence, (and any aircraft holding there), versus an engine failure over the town if using the old runway length. I will be using the old runway length in most cases (760 metres).

With this in mind, please observe the following when operating off runway 23.

- Carry out runups and takeoff checks at the aircraft park. Be carefull of engine temperatures with the reduced warm up time compared to taxiing to the old runup area, and be aware of other aircraft and people behind you.

- Taxi to the old runup area ready for takeoff, if you elect to use full length, backtrack when there is a break in traffic. If breaks are not big enough to takeoff immediately, taxi through the gap in the old fence and hold for a break in the traffic to the side of the runway abeam the new threshold (next to 'the barn'). There is no mowed taxiway on the eastern side of the old fence, and the ground is particularly rough near the current eastern end of the runway. Hold just west of this area.

See map below

-Please give me a call if you need clarification.