Current Projects
Runway Sealing to Boost Waikato Aviation Cluster Businesses
The Hamilton International Airport is sealing its 650 metre long grass runway (to be completed June 2009). The $780,000 project was made possible through a $300,000 contribution by the Waikato Aviation Cluster. The sealing project will allow the airport to cater to the continual growth of airport traffic. Statistics just released show the Hamilton International Airport is now the second busiest airport in the country, behind Auckland. Having this grass runway sealed is going to allow the airport to cater to this traffic, particularly to the general aviation side of our business.
Read more about this projectWaikato Aviation Cluster Secures Aluminum Heat Treatment Plant
The Waikato Aviation Cluster has provided a 50% contribution of $50,000 to Pacific Aerospace to establish suitable Aluminum Heat Treatment capabilities within the cluster. The equipment has been installed at Pacific Aerospace Limited (PAL) for their use, while around 20 hours a week of plant time will be made available for other Waikato aircraft manufacturers. Waikato Aviation Cluster Board Chairman, John Jones, says this equipment removes a huge barrier to growth for the local industry.
Read more about this projectSpecialist Aviation Paint Facility
Other than the aviation paint facility owned and used solely by Air New Zealand, there are very limited aviation paint facilities in the country. Establishing a painting and detailing facility in the Waikato region has been identified as the highest priority project for the Cluster. A feasibility study was carried out in 2008 and planning has now begun on setting up this business. A broad range of potential users throughout New Zealand have been identified.
Read more about this projectLooking Toward the Future
The coming year for the cluster will be its most exciting yet. With the paint facility set to be underway in March/April 2010, the corner stone will be established for the future development of cluster initiatives. With 16 new aircraft designs in different stages of development, along with the development of new technologies and materials, it means that there is no end of talent and potential in the New Zealand aviation sector.
At full commercialisation, these new aircraft could result in an additional $927 million in export revenue per annum. This is an opportunity of significance and one that our government is taking seriously in supporting the cluster as it looks to continue to build capability and capacity. The industry will need to be ready to take advantage of these opportunities as we look to carve a worldwide industry niche as the centre of General Aviation aircraft manufacture, maintenance and airline pilot training.
Composites Facility
With new product development and 15 out of 16 new aircraft design being full composite construction, we will need an aviation composite facility capable of handling the necessary design and prototyping. The cluster has set aside funds to bring stakeholders together to develop a company that can support the potential demands for aviation composites. Several parties in the industry are being approached to team up and develop a business model that can produce the complex, light and strong parts needed to support the current design flow into composite structures.
Commercialization Company
The Aviation Industry Cluster has the opportunity to position New Zealand as a global leader in light aircraft design, modeling, prototyping, certification and productionisation.
New Zealand has an industry gap in the prototyping, certification and productionisation of new niche aircraft which can then be built and assembled in New Zealand. If this gap is filled with a new company that is capitalised and skilled to build the first of type, certify it and develop assembly standard operating procedures, in return for a share of equity, it will remove a significant entry barrier for new niche aircraft, and position New Zealand with a unique set of skills to commercialise new aircraft.
This has significant benefits for New Zealand’s aviation industry reputation and builds on the capability and capacity developing as part of the original Aviation MRI.
Supply chain members and aviation investors have expressed an interest in the concept. Ongoing passive income or the ability to down sell equity will allow the new company to repeat this process on a sustainable basis. It also builds on the Tech NZ Consortium application and the specialist aviation painting facility.
Laminar Flow
An international aerodynamicist attracted to Hamilton because of the cluster activity is developing a retrofit wing modification that will have significant fuel saving benefits for airlines. Discussions with an airline company are continuing and they are currently carrying out due diligence on the proposal.
Research Consortium
The cluster has applied to Tech NZ to establish a research consortium and has passed the initial evaluation. The consortium would use the structure established by the cluster and provide funds to support industry and product development. The application has had initial favourable reception from the assessment panel.
