Tricky landing at Gisborne, NZ

[Deleted]

As you know, New Zealander Gisborne Airport is one the very few airports having a runway crossed by a railway. Some weeks I showed here the airport with a train as static object. Now I replaced it by a moving one, initially done for GW 1931 National Air Tour scenery.



Bernard

[Tom/CalClassic]

Seeing the train crossing while on approach must increase the stress level!

[Deleted]

Indeed. At least one should read an actual timetable of the other.

[aerofoto]

I've actually traveled down the NZ's east coast "by train" (an enthusiasts trip .... I'm "NOT" a train enthusiast but went only because the society running it undertook a rare charter, for a few days, during the mid 1990's, and which went down that very scenic coastal line) .... and crossed the Gisborne Airport as a result.

It's lights controlled, but, the train still needs verbal authorization from Gisborne tower in order to cross the airport legally.

Probably the only trains in the world that require "an ATC clearance" at any stage of their routing

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[Jorge]

Very nice Bernard! I always wondered how they did that for the train. Glad to see you got it to work elsewhere!

Jorge
Miami, FL

[Deleted]

Sorry, I confound the trains. The one used at Gisborne I took it from the Golden Wings railways moving on the Florida Keys. While the wrongly mentioned train, and effectively part of 1931 NAT, is shown in the vincinity of Phenick Field. 

The Florida Keys railways use normal linked Afcad like for vehicles or ships. On the other hand the NAT trains travel between two mini airfields with very short runways. As we know them for helicopter traffic. Quite curious, but interesting. 


Bernard

[nmlw]

I think the train crew and passengers took some very hard looks when approaching the runway crossing.

[aharon]

Trains need ATC clearance?

I thought or remembered reading that trains have PRIORITY or right of way OVER aircrafts in that airport meaning all aircrafts on ground must stop taxiing to wait for trains to cross the airport and all aircrafts on airborne must wait for turn to land until trains finish crossing the airport.

Can anybody confirm or correct me, please?

Regards,

Aharon

[Tom/CalClassic]

They may have to contact ATC to make sure all aircraft are out of their way?

[aharon]

Aug 28, 2022 13:01:10 GMT -5 Tom/CalClassic said:

They may have to contact ATC to make sure all aircraft are out of their way?

Thanks Tom   So I am correct that trains have priority and right of way over any aircraft that is taxiing on ground OR in airborne.

That sounds weird to me because in America, FAA says that any aircraft that is airborne has priority and right of way over any aircraft on taxiways OR over anything on airport ground  hence my surprise that trains in New Zealand have priority and right of way over any plane on taxiways OR in airborne when crossing Grisborne airport

Regards,

Aharon

[Tom/CalClassic]

I'm not sure, I'm just speculating at this point.

[PeteHam]

Here's the current airport chart for Gisborne ....

www.aip.net.nz/assets/AIP/Aerodrome-Charts/Gisborne-NZGS/NZGS_51.1_51.2.pdf

I'll see if I can find an old airport chart that had the rail crossing notam

Pete.

[aharon]

PeteHam,

Thanks Hope you can find old charts!!

Tom,

I asked New Zealand aviation experts and they said I am basically correct about trains having the right of way over planes on ground or on airborne.

Regards,

Aharon

[mrcapitalism]

Looking at the airport diagram, I think I see a published hold short point for runway 14 which gives 868m before the railroad tracks. And there are plenty of other runways. I wonder if what happens is the airport temporarily closes the southern portion of the runway when the train needs to transit it?

[PeteHam]

These pages are from my 1999 Visual Flight Guide


Gisborne AD Light signals