Last week the Government through the Minister of Tourism Louise Upston and the Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka made some welcome decisions on the future of Milford Sound Piopiotahi.
As detailed in this Beehive release, the Government is to invest $15.2 million into upgrading infrastructure and enhancing conservation in the region.
A key aspect of the announcement is that Milford Aerodrome will be retained. Aircraft will continue to be able to access Milford putting an end to a proposal that was planning to ban aircraft operations.
Huge congratulations must go to the Queenstown Milford User Group (QMUG) that includes Mark Quickfall (Totally Tourism), James Stokes (Glenorchy Air), Hank and Ant Sproull (Air Milford), and others, for their work over many years, to achieve this outcome. Their evidenced based advocacy has been instrumental in allowing sustainable tourism to continue in this prized region of New Zealand.
Milford Sound Piopiotahi injects around $200 million into the local economy.
Queenstown Airspace Consultation – Have Your Say
The Civil Aviation Authority is currently consulting on a substantial proposal to restructure controlled airspace around Queenstown. Submitted by Airways New Zealand, this change includes a reduction of the existing Queenstown Control Zone (CTR), the introduction of three new VFR Transit Lanes, amendments to three existing lanes, and updates to several Visual Reporting Points (VRPs). The goal is to reduce ATC workload, simplify VFR operations, and improve traffic flows in one of the country’s most operationally complex environments.
The proposal is the result of a collaborative process between Airways, the Queenstown Milford User Group (QMUG), and Queenstown Airport Corporation, following an in-depth review and workshops using an Interest-Based Problem Solving (IBPS) approach.
Key proposed changes include:
- Reducing the lateral extent of the Queenstown CTR
- Increasing VFR Transit Lane coverage from ~37% to ~60% of the CTR area
- Withdrawing five existing VRPs and designating seven new ones
- Aligning new airspace with prominent geographic features to safely manage IFR and VFR separation
Importantly, the consultation also raises questions around the potential designation of some Transit Lanes as Transponder Mandatory, and seeks to assign dedicated frequencies to each Transit Lane to reduce congestion and enhance situational awareness.
The CAA is inviting feedback from industry before making any final designations or classifications. Submissions are open until Monday, 30 June 2025.
To view the full proposal and make a submission, visit:
Queenstown Airspace Review – CAA NZ
Submissions can be sent to:
aeronautical.services@caa.govt.nz
(Reference: 2025-00680 NZQN Airspace Petition)
If this proposal affects your operations or you have perspectives to share, we strongly encourage you to provide feedback. As always, we’re happy to receive your thoughts directly as well.
The Queenstown Milford User Group (QMUG) have also driven the proposed changes by Airways to the Queenstown Control Zone, including new transit lanes and visual reporting points. These changes could impact how you operate, and we want to make sure your voice is heard.
Read the full proposal and petition, then share your thoughts directly via email to: aeronautical.services@caa.govt.nz, reference – 2025-00680 NZQN Airspace Petition.
Or call us if you’d prefer AIANZ to include your feedback in a collective submission.
Submissions close Monday 30 June.
We’re here to help, don’t hesitate to reach out.