Airways International and Tāwhaki Joint Venture are working together to help drive the New Zealand aerospace sector forward in a collaboration agreement announced today.
Both Airways International and Tāwhaki are focused on supporting sector growth in a way that enables the safe integration of new and existing aerospace technologies in the airspace system.
Their agreement identifies key target areas to fast-track testing of uncrewed aircraft that can benefit operators, policy makers and regulators in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.
Tāwhaki will shortly be deploying the latest iteration of Airways International’s uncrewed traffic management (UTM) system, AirShare, at the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete. The goal of AirShare’s UTM system is to share the air safely and efficiently; it will provide a clear picture of airspace activity for operators at the multi-use site and support future projects.
Airways International and Tāwhaki are also looking to set up initiatives with sector-wide benefits, such as flight corridors, that can explore future concepts of operations in our airspaces and support new types of aircraft. The data and learnings from these projects would directly assist policy makers, regulators and standards development organisations to prepare for these operations and new and uncrewed aircraft becoming commonplace.
Airways International CEO Sharon Cooke says, “We’re excited to be partnering with Tāwhaki to provide UTM services and trial advanced UTM features and traffic management concepts aimed at creating the aviation environment of the future.”
Tāwhaki is attracting companies from around the world, and supporting aerospace endeavours from research and development to innovative start-ups and full-scale operators at its National Aerospace Centre. Uniquely placed with wide open spaces to facilitate aerospace testing in the close vicinity of international air and seaports and a modern city, Tāwhaki is recognised as one of the world’s premier locations for aerospace, launch and space exploration.
Tāwhaki CEO Linda Falwasser says partnerships like this are crucial for the sector to thrive.
“We need to be responsive and progressive in how we help this sector grow and working together to find practical, forward-looking solutions is key. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Airways International to create world-leading testing environments for advanced aviation systems and technologies, so we can safely develop more sustainable transport options and tackle some of the big challenges facing our people and planet.”
About Airways International
Airways International is the commercial arm of Airways New Zealand – providing UTM, training, digital solutions, aeronautical information management, procedure design and aviation consultancy services globally to air navigation service providers (ANSPs), airlines and airports. AirShare UTM supports air navigation service providers and other airspace managers to safely and efficiently manage uncrewed traffic; enhancing situational awareness and reducing ATC workloads through digitisation.
About Tāwhaki
Tāwhaki Joint Venture is a partnership between the New Zealand Government and mana whenua (indigenous people) for Kaitorete – Te Taumutu Rūnanga and Wairewa Rūnanga. Tāwhaki weaves together mātauranga Māori (indigenous knowledge), research, science, cutting-edge aerospace technology and environmental rejuvenation for the benefit of our people and planet.
It established the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, a multi-use facility supporting a wide breadth of aerospace activities including advanced aviation, engine testing, weather balloon deployment and horizontal space launch. The site just outside Ōtautahi Christchurch boasts a sealed runway, hangar facilities (mid-2024), drone areas and digital infrastructure, and is scaling up for vertical launch and renewable energy.