Milford Sound Piopiotahi Aerodrome

NZ Air Navigation Register Details 

Name: Milford Sound Aerodrome
Code: NZMF
Type: Non-certificated
Co-ordinates: S 44 40 24.0, E 167 55 24.0 (coordinates are WGS-84 datum)

Milford Sound/Piopiotahi Aerodrome (NZMF) is situated in the Fiordland National Park, at the foot of the Sound, and is operated by the Ministry of Transport as a non-certificated aerodrome, available for general use. Airways New Zealand provide a flight information service (FSS) at NZMF. Operational requirements and the aerodrome landing chart are detailed in the NZ Aeronautical Information Publication (PDF, 445kb) on the AIP website (opens in new window). 

Health and safety

While principally a matter for the Ministry’s employees the Ministry recognises that it has general responsibilities under the Health & Safety in Employment Act. Similarly, the Airways Corporation, Milford Helicopters and other commercial air operators using the aerodrome (represented by the Queenstown-Milford User Group) also have employer responsibilities under the Act.

Following consultation with stakeholders, the Ministry has now established an aerodrome Health and Safety Policy, setting out the aerodrome relationships and responsibilities of each employer, and an aerodrome Health and Safety Manual that while having to suit the Ministry, is generic enough to apply to the other aerodrome employers. The next step is to undertake and promulgate a hazard review.

Read the Heath and Safety Policy (PDF, 63kb)

Read the Heath and Safety Manual (PDF, 158kb)

Charges

Operators of aircraft using NZMF aerodrome will be charged by Airways New Zealand for flight information services, and by the Ministry for landings. For information on Airways charges see the Airways New Zealand website at http://www.airways.co.nz/airways_services/terms.asp.

Operators using NZMF will be invoiced monthly in arrears by the Ministry.

Landing charges

The Ministry is expected to recoup 100 percent of the cost of aerodrome operation from charges. Charges are set by the Minister of Transport pursuant to Regulation 13 of the Civil Aviation Charges Regulations (No. 2) 1991.

A significant increase in charges was necessary after the Ministry incurred capital expenditure of some $465,000 in 2008/9/10 for resealing of all movement areas and improvements to drainage, helipads and fencing. The improvements were completed in February 2010, increasing the aerodrome valuation to $1.345 million and the charges from 1 July 2010 were intended to recoup the capital expenditure over the life of the improvements (20 years for sealed areas). The Queenstown-Milford User Group (QMUG) was consulted on the proposed capital works from the outset, and also on the charges that would eventuate.

For more background, read the Ministry’s 2010 letter to QMUG about the charges (PDF v7.0, 2,837kb).

Increase with effect from 1 December 2011

In the recent past, aerodrome utilisation has continued to decline while costs have remained relatively static. In September 2011 the Ministry reviewed the adequacy of the charges against the 2011/12 budget and made two proposals to QMUG for further adjustments to charges. A consultation meeting was held in Queenstown on Wednesday 26 October and the Group acquiesced to ‘proposal 2’ which was for a higher percentage increase initially against the prospect of nil or minor percentage increases in future years, unless there were significant changes in costs or utilisation.

On 25 November 2011, the Minister of Transport approved a new schedule of charges with effect from 1 December 2011, as detailed below:

Further information

Read the Ministry’s proposal (PDF, 5.4mb)

Read the independent peer review of the proposal (PDF, 3.7mb)

See the Minister of Transport’s approval (PDF, 427kb)

If you wish to see the financial models referred to in the Ministry's proposal, please contact Nigel Mouat.

Ministry contacts

For aerodrome policy and operational matters, contact Nigel Mouat, Principal Adviser, Aviation and Security Team, Tel: 0-4-439 9354, Fax: 0-4-439 9004 or Email Nigel Mouat.

For invoicing queries, contact Delle Wallace, Accounts Officer, Tel: 0-4-439 9370, Fax: 0-4-439 9005 or  Email Delle Wallace.