VISITING PILOTS – IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Visiting pilots are very much welcomed. To help with your trip planning, please read the following information. If you have any questions after reading this, please contact one of our Committee Members – see Contacts page.
CRAC Clubhouse
You are very welcome to use the CRAC clubhouse during the day to refresh, rest and have a chat. The clubhouse has a kitchen and toilets. If no one is around to let you in, please call a committee member for the door code.
Coffee & tea is free and there is a range of pre-packaged food available for purchase from the tuck shop. This is an honesty-based system, so please put payment into the red tin (no IOUs). If you don’t have cash, you can pay online into the CRAC bank account – please put your name and ‘TUCKSHOP” as the reference. We will shortly be introducing eftpos for your convenience.
If you are the last one out, please check that all doors and windows are closed and secure, and that all lights, heaters, and the oven are turned off. We would appreciate you making an entry in our Visitor Book and welcome your feedback.
Emergency Accommodation
Due to the requirements of the Waimakariri District Council that owns the airfield, the bunkroom in the CRAC Clubhouse is for use in emergency situations only. We are not allowed to have people staying overnight in any other circumstances. “Emergency situation” means that if you cannot depart safely from NZRT (due to bad weather, aircraft issues, or other factors contrary to safe flight) you are welcome to overnight until it is safe to depart. Please note, having routine aircraft maintenance undertaken is not an emergency situation. The cost of accommodation is $30 pp for one night and $20 pp for each additional night. Payment is to be made before departing either by placing cash in the red tin in the office (with a receipt from the adjacent book stating your name and aircraft registration) or by paying online (using your name, aircraft registration and the text “ACCOM” as reference).
Accommodation – non-emergency
If overnighting in other circumstances, you will need to arrange your own accommodation. You are welcome to email secretary@crac.co.nz for a list of club members who have indicated willingness to provide accommodation to visiting pilots. Accommodation provided by members in this way is a private arrangement between those persons and the visiting pilot, and not part of CRAC operations.
Fuel
AVGAS is available at pumps at NZRT. MOGAS is not publicly available.
CRAC has a fuel tanker for the use of CRAC members only. Visiting pilots may only use the tanker if a CRAC member buys the fuel for you and directly supervises refuelling.
Empty fuel containers are available in Hangar 1 (closest hangar to the clubhouse), and can be used to get fuel from Rangiora township. Please make sure you put them back where they came from when you have finished refuelling. These must only be used for MOGAS. Whilst all care is taken to ensure these are used for petrol only, it is your responsibility to check they are clean before using them.
CRAC Ute
The CRAC ute is for the use of CRAC members only unless you have been authorised by a Committee Member to use it. This would be for local use only to get fuel or supplies.
Hangarage
CRAC is not able to provide hangarage for visiting aircraft but you are welcome to tie down your aircraft in a suitable area. In exceptional circumstances where your plane is likely to be damaged if it is left outside, please contact one of our Committee members and they will see what they can do for you.
Insurance: If you do not have 3rd party & premises insurance in place and CRAC agrees to hangar your plane temporarily to avoid damage to it, this is at your own risk, meaning you will be personally liable for any damage to planes or premises caused by you or your aircraft.
Emergency maintenance
Please contact local microlight IA “Clear Prop” aircraft maintenance. Griffith Hansen – 029 775 7705 griff@clearprop.co.nz
Pilots visiting from other countries
Information for overseas pilots visiting New Zealand can be found on the RAANZ website.
If you have any questions or need help with anything, please contact one of our Committee Members