🇳🇿 Alexandra Aerodrome

Alexandra Aerodrome (IATA: ALR, ICAO: NZLX) is a public aerodrome situated 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) northwest of Alexandra, New Zealand, operated by the Central Otago District Council.

Type of Facility and Operations: Alexandra Aerodrome is primarily used for general aviation, including operations for smaller planes, flight training, and gliding. It features both asphalt and grass runways. Fuel services, including Mobil Aerostop, Jet A1, and Avgas100, are available. Flight Information Service is provided by Queenstown Tower, Dunedin Tower, or NZCH-S_CTR when towers are off watch.

Notable Features or History: The aerodrome has a history of supporting commercial passenger services. South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand (SPANZ) operated Douglas DC-3 services from December 1960 to February 1966. Mount Cook Airlines utilized Britten-Norman Islanders from 1969 to 1991, connecting Alexandra to Dunedin and Queenstown. Other airlines, such as Goldfields Air, Pacifica Air, and Airlink, also had brief periods of operation at the aerodrome. In 2007-2008, Mainland Air trialled scheduled services, but these did not continue due to insufficient patronage. Mainland Aviation College also previously operated a flight training college there, which is no longer active in Alexandra. The Central Otago Flying Club has been a continuous presence for over 50 years, operating various aircraft for flight training and glider activities.

Current Status: Alexandra Aerodrome is currently operational. It continues to serve as a hub for general aviation, flight training through the Central Otago Flying Club, and gliding. A new commercial hangar, leased by Tinshed Aviation Ltd, is being constructed for aircraft restoration, maintenance, and flight training, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. This development aligns with the Council's masterplan to support compatible aviation activities. The airport's runway surface is scheduled for resealing during the summer of 2024-2025. As of recent reports, there are no operational issues.