A Pilot's View: Queenstown New Zealand

I just flew there VFR in a 172. I was on vacation and decided to take a lesson. We stayed under that cloud deck the whole time in the valleys around Queenstown and Lake Waktipu. Gorgeous but not many options if something goes wrong. That said my instructor had flown for 29 year on the South Island

 

That video is cool...

Thanks for sharing

Flying VFR on top is a great feeling.

 

I go fishing in New Zealand every year, and I have ridden as an airline passenger into Queenstown many times, always (so far) in VMC. There isn't much margin for error, and if it's ever IMC when I go there, I will be pretty nervous. I would love to see the approach plates for the approaches into that airport!

 

Aren't they available online anywhere?

Edit: Found one at AIP New Zealand
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More information here.No Room For Error: Pilot and Innovator Steve Fulton Talks about the ?Alarm and Frustration? That Gave Birth to a Revolution in Aircraft Navigation | GE Reports

 

So I took the suggestion and looked on-line. I found all of the procedures at Queenstown at the following URL:

AIP New Zealand

One of them is an RNAV approach to Rwy 5, with RNP (required navigational performance). Note the arc on the final approach segment to follow the lake!

AIP New Zealand

 

Just up a few miles from Queenstown is Warbirds over Wanaka this Easter - worth a look!
Warbirds set for takeoff | Stuff.co.nz

 

I think that Jergis Kairys is one crazy man.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wphoKayaw9o