The upgraded Deniliquin airport runway is already proving a runaway success after being re-opened to all traffic – from little single seater private planes to sleek jet aircraft.
And perhaps most important of all, the Victorian and NSW Air Ambulance services have also confirmed the new-look main runway and upgraded lighting system will ensure the airport remains a vital part of their network.
The $5.5 million federal funding saw the original 1219m sealed runway (runway 06/24) removed and replaced with a new construction with significantly increased bearing capacity for both the runway and taxiway.
For those coming in after dark – such as the frontline emergency services – a new aeronautical ground lighting systems installed, along with a new lighting cubicle and infrastructure.
New LED luminaires for the existing illuminated wind direction indicator (IWDI) and apron floodlights will increase safety during take-off and landings at night and in low visibility.
Edward River Council chief executive officer Phil Stone says there had been many options considered in the planning for the upgrade.
“We had lots of discussions during planning with airport users and stakeholders on what was needed and the best way to deliver that, even looking at lengthening the runway to 3000m,” he says.
“The final project scope was to replace and strengthen the existing 1219m runway and the contract was awarded to Bild Group Construction. ”After awarding the contract, we had a lot of positive suggestions from local airport users, which has helped us plan how the project will be delivered.”
Mayor Peta Betts says everyone involved with the construction “has been amazing”.
She says the council also genuinely appreciated the support “and patience” of the airport users.
Both Cr Betts and Mr Stone inspected the runway the day before it got its final sign off from the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority and apart from the technical data about the depth of the new runway, the thing which impressed them the most was its billiard table surface.
“No more rollercoaster take-offs here anymore,” Mr Jones explains. “The last time the mayor and I took off here it was a pretty bumpy start to the trip but there won’t be any more of that now,” he added.
Construction began on May 29 – it even juggled around the Deni Ute Muster – before getting the final green light and officially opening on November 3.
And one of the first planes touching down as soon as it was official was the Cessna Citation jet, the latest acquisition for Wettenhall Air Services, the current incarnation of the town’s air charter operation which has been an airport tenant for the past 58 years.
Deni might be its home, but only the sky is the limit for WAS as it operates the length and breadth of Australia.
WAS owner Russell Tait says Deniliquin can be proud of having an air charter operator based here continuously for 58 years, operating extensively throughout Australia.
In early 1997 Nigel and Margaret Wettenhall moved to Deniliquin, purchasing two aircraft from Macknight Air Services, which had operated here with both charter and low capacity regular passenger transport (RPT) services since 1965.
Nigel says WAS started operations with a Piper Twin Comanche four-seat aircraft and a Rockwell Aero Commander eight-seater.
“Over the next few years, we acquired a second Twin Comanche and established a base in Broken Hill with two aircraft, a Beechcraft Baron for passenger charter and a single engine Piper Cherokee solely used to deliver mail to outback stations for Australia Post,” he added.
“In 2007 we added our first turboprop aircraft to the fleet, purchasing a Swearingen Merlin nine-passenger airplane.”
In 2021 the company was acquired by Russell Tait’s Indara Holdings Pty Ltd, and he embarked on a comprehensive modernisation program with a new King Air 260 in 2022 and this year the new Cessna Citation M2 light jet.
“Continuing,” Russell says, “with the safest aircraft aviation has to offer, right here in Deniliquin.”
He says the company can now offer two of the newest, and most widely respected business aircraft for charter throughout Australia, drawing on its extensive east coast and outback aviation experience.
“We have a continuous presence in the industry for more than 58 years, with an exemplary safety record.
“Our two senior pilots, Nigel Wettenhall and Philip Oakes, have more than 35,000 hours and 80 combined years of flying experience – right here in Deniliquin.”
Add to that Russell’s 40 years of business experience and Deni Freighters, his primary business, and you have a remarkable talent pool with a strong and established commitment to the community.
Russell says their charter clients range from capital city corporates to the fly-in, fly-out contracts with mines to the big corporate farmers.
Flying at 400-plus knots air speed (that’s pilot talk for 835km/h) also means wherever you want to go, you won’t get there any faster.
“We can safely get you 1800km in any direction before needing to land and refuel,” Russell explains.
“That means we could get you to Birdsville non-stop, have you in Melbourne in 25 minutes, in Sydney in under an hour or Brisbane in less than two – or you could do something out of the ordinary, such as a day trip to King Island in Bass Strait for a degustation and a tour and still be home by 5pm,” he says.
“For us the key thing has been making sure Deni keeps an air charter service going.”