New operations manager as Wanaka steps up
Experienced airport and aviation professional Daniel Debono will join Wanaka Airport early in 2018 as Operations Manager, following an Australasia-wide recruitment process for the role.
Daniel has worked in the aviation industry his whole adult life and has a solid understanding of general aviation, airport infrastructure, operations, the Civil Aviation Act, associated Civil Aviation Rules, and Health and Safety Legislation.
Originally from Dunedin, Daniel is no stranger to the Southern Lakes region, having worked and holidayed in Queenstown and Wanaka for many years after he graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Aviation Management.
Daniel initially joined the Queenstown Airport team in 2006 and after stints in both airside and operations roles, he joined Wellington Airport as Manager Airfield and Airport Fire Service in 2011. He was responsible for the airport’s airfield operations and Airport Fire Service, leading a team of 30 staff across the 24/7 operation.
Daniel will leave his current role as GM Infrastructure and Service Delivery at Dunedin Airport later this year and join the Wanaka Airport team in early January 2018.
Queenstown Airport GM Operations and Safety, Mike Clay, said Daniel is “a strong aviation professional and a great fit for Wanaka Airport”.
“Daniel has a broad aviation skillset and has spent his entire working life in aviation. Luckily for us the call of Central Otago was too strong and we are very fortunate to have Daniel on-board to lead the team in Wanaka.
“His extensive knowledge of general and scheduled aviation operations and airport infrastructure, plus his personality and leadership attributes, complete the strong and experienced team we have on-board to assist QAC to grow and develop Wanaka Airport to its full potential.”
Daniel joins a current Wanaka Airport team which consists of Caroline Dumas, Operations and Compliance Coordinator, Ralph Fegan, Facilities and Maintenance Manager, and Naomi Lindsay, Communications Executive.
Speaking of his new role, Daniel said, “Having started my own aviation journey in general aviation, completing my private pilot’s licence in 2003, I fully understand and respect the connection between both these parts of the aviation ecosystem.
“The future of Wanaka Airport is exciting and full of potential and I’m looking forward to becoming part of the Wanaka community, reconnecting with old friends and aviation industry peers. It’s a special community that I feel privileged to be able to join again.
“From a personal perspective, the move to Wanaka offers my wife and I the ability to realise our dream of building a passive house with a small permaculture orchard attached, in a part of the world that we love. Being an avid kayaker, tramper and skier I’m also really excited at the thought of having a lake and national park right at my doorstep again.”
Daniel comes to Wanaka as the airport seems to be about to step up to a new level. An ever increasing number of corporate jet operators want to fly into Queenstown for overnight stops but the airport is almost entirely occupied by commercial airlines.
During peak season, corporate and private jets sometimes struggle to find parking space at Queenstown Airport and fly to Dunedin or other airports once passengers disembark.
So serious is the situation that Queenstown Airport Corporation is considering developing Wanaka Airport for use as an overflow park for private and corporate jets because Queenstown Airport often runs out of space.
But before a decision is made on using Wanaka as an overflow, there needs to be a review of security arrangements there, as this is a key consideration for corporate and private jets. The main concern for corporate aircraft operators is the almost total lack of security at Wanaka Airport.
Currently, Queenstown Airport Corporation is considering the cost of erecting security fencing around Wanaka Airport along with the possible engagement of a private security company to ensure the security of any valuable corporate jets that may be parked overnight at Wanaka.
- Report by Paul Harrison.
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