Airways officially open new control tower
Airways’, New Zealand's air navigation service provider, has officially opened a new air traffic control tower to support the more than 97,000 flights that arrive and depart Wellington Airport each year.
The unique design of the structure appears to lean into the prevailing wind.
The old tower, which had been operating for 61 years from its nearby Tirangi Road site, needed to be replaced to meet the ongoing needs of the airport.
Built to meet 100 per cent of the building code for a structure of its importance level, the tower is one of New Zealand’s safest buildings. Thirteen base isolators have been installed within its foundations to provide a high level of resilience against earthquakes.
Controllers working in the tower will have panoramic views across the airfield from 32 metres above ground level.
