Air New Zealand A320 circuit approach into Queenstown Airport with stunning views - Must see!

[@nshvle]

I remember my first time flying into Queestown on a Qantas flight from Christchurch 2004 was a circuit approach. It had me thinking, how the hell are we going to get this thing on the ground from such a great height, then the circling began absolutely spectacular.

[@Squirel]

This is the best non-cockpit flight video I have seen. Well done.

[@nigelc22]

Appreciate your very generous comments, thank you 🙏

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

I agree

[@erickemp8286]

You never forget that approach into Queenstown, and what a beautiful place when you get on the ground. Lake Wakatipu is spectacular.

[@smudge6831]

I take that flight at least twice a year. Never get tired of the approach. Loving being a kiwi!

[@tplus3017]

I would agree. NZ is definitely on my list of places to visit.

[@grandadneal8114]

Its a wonderful airport to fly into. The only problem is its literally the only place we can use our credit to go to within nz thats worth flying to

[@pizzabagerenmujaffa8123]

I could use a kiwi to my fruit salad tomorrow ....best regards mr banana

[@nickatkinson5692]

one of the best approaches to an airport anywhere.

[@nigelc22]

I agree!

[@NathanElcoate]

Fantastic video, captured the sound perfectly, just like being there! And that black Bombardier to top it off!

[@ncyttvc5384]

Thank you!

[@fadhelgartam6840]

I just got back from my new zealand vacation. Our first destination was queenstown, and I won't forget how beautiful the scenery on the approach!

[@javacup912]

On December, that same year, I spent 4 days in Queenstown, but the approach for the same airport, we hugged the mountains. What an awesome place. Covid has prevented me to return for even a longer stay. Thanks for the video.

[@canadianroot]

That pesky coronalierus.

[@nigelc22]

You’re welcome

[@naturallyherb]

Really awesome! On the charts I can see that this is part of the missed approach procedure from rwy 23. If a go around is initiated, then the aircraft will turn south into Lake Wakatipu, left again to the north passing by the Remarkables, then turning right near Arrowtown, and then a non-precision approach back to 23.

[@PaulSmith-bb7lv]

I lived and worked next to ZQN for three years and watched many commercial jets land there. This "circuit approach" was used to allow aircraft flying in from the north to descend in a controlled manner. It included a loop around Lake Hayes as was shown on the video. The Remarkables rise to over 6,000 feet and present a significant challenge to overfly in such a narrow space.

[@Vagabondo-fs6qu]

Gorgeous approach (also a clear definition when used in aviation) and was exactly what I expected from the video title. Thank You.

[@nigelc22]

I appreciate your comments, thank you

[@elwoodroadsmusic9639]

NZ holds a special place in my heart! Cant wait to come back

[@nigelc22]

Come visit again once Borders reopen!

[@OrnumCR]

Magnificent...Can’t wait to get back again. Visited Queenstown a few times...and although I live in Australia these days I was born just up the road a bit in Cromwell. Love NZ and Queenstown...

[@nigelc22]

Come visit when the borders permit

[@chilkara1]

Stunning view of the mountain range and the planes on the tarmac.

[@janinebell763]

Love the view, so beautiful.

[@followyourdreams8673]

My favourite place to be. Will get back there one day. Thanks for the video. It made me smile.

[@nigelc22]

Come visit again when the borders reopen

[@followyourdreams8673]

@@nigelc22 I’m counting the days until I can walk alongside the shore of Lake Wakatipu and gaze at the mountains again. It’s my heaven.

[@moriver3857]

I flew from AKL to ZQN in 2018 but was seated on the opposite side but flew somewhat straight in hugging those huge mountains. What a beautiful place and great town, calm place. Planned to go back in 2019, but it wasn't to be.

[@nigelc22]

Definitely the luck of the drawer with which side you sit and with which flight path in they choose. Absolutely go back again when covid issues are resolved and safe to do so!

[@Robochop-vz3qm]

That truly is spectacular. Love from OZ 🇦🇺👍

[@nigelc22]

Come visit when the borders reopen!

[@Robochop-vz3qm]

@@nigelc22 love to one day bro, cheers 👍

[@ttmtb7436]

I love it when the fly in from the opposite direction, ur literally 10 metres above the top of the mountains!

[@TodorAviation]

What a beautiful approach/ landing!

[@zacariasblanco9738]

I want to move and live the rest of My life with my family in New Zealand such a beautiful place

[@johnfreeborn979]

Bring all your money and spend it there then.

[@LTLT900]

Its okay except for Auckland.

[@zacariasblanco9738]

@@johnfreeborn979 i was thinking to take peanuts and buy a house with them lol. what you think i was planning on doing lol how old are you omg

[@frozpyy-_8308]

@@LTLT900 and Hamilton bro😂

[@md11x6]

Nice vid. Spectacular views. Always wanted to fly in to Queenstown just for an apporach like this.

[@drdanmorris]

Once upon a time (15 Years ago) this would have been the normal approach into NZQN: a visual circuit in the Queenstown basin over Lake Hayes to lose altitude. These days the approaches are all straight-in RNP procedures (using GPS and inertial reference systems), either into runway 23 through the mountains, or to runway 05 over lake Wakatipu. I am guessing that your flight would have been on an RNP approach to RWY 05 and then was given a runway change to 23. The easiest option in this case - weather permitting - would be to do a missed approach and then a visual circuit to runway 23, as we see here. Quite a rarity these days. Often the basin is covered in cloud so a more long-winded re-routing onto the RNP approach to 23 would have been required, which would have added a good 10 minutes extra to the flight.

[@nigelc22]

Interesting information Daniel, thank you for that

[@grahamhighet3892]

What a fantastic flight, and of the flying professionalism from the flight officers of Air NZ. Firstly, to hear both mid undercarriages hit the runway , literally, at the same time shows professionalism by those flying it. As a senior NZ Tour Guide, firstly for a large US Tour Company for 9 years, and for the past 6 years for a large, and very well respected UK Tour Company, I have done this trip countless times. This approach would have to be one of the most spectacular in NZ. As you approach the runway you can, literally, reach out and touch the hills. Even more spectacular when there is snow on the mountains. It's amazing. If you're thinking of flying into Queenstown, try and get a daylight flight that gives you this experience. You won't regret it. To the Air NZ Tech Crew (Pilots), I thank you for your skills. You are awesome. FYI, as I've had confirmed, the Pilot that does the in-flight commentary, is normally the one flying the aircraft for that sector. Hopefully I'll be back tour-guiding for the Brits early in 2022. In the meantime, I'm exploring my NZ options. Be well, Fly safe. Graham

[@nigelc22]

Thanks for the great comments Graham

[@KiwiPokerPlayer]

That sounds like an amazing job. I currently live in Dunedin, NZ and have been considering a career change for a while. I've done my share of international travel but have always booked my own flights (as opposed to using a travel agency) and have never been part of a tour group so I'm unfamiliar with your profession. If it's not too much trouble, would you mind pointing me in the direction of where I can find out more?

[@HealthyMindProject]

Wow! Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I've never been to NZ, but this video certainly makes me want to!

[@trudylynch6750]

The video still doesn't give it justice, way more beautiful than that !

[@alabama1413]

Fabulous scenery & what a great location for the airport. Excellent video. 👏

[@binman5233]

Thoroughly enjoyed the footage. Thanks.

[@nigelc22]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ianstewartaviation2634]

Wow awesome video and that scenery 😍 you are so lucky to live in such a beautiful country I have witnessed it for myself during a months tour with my nephew back in 2019, stunning country and such friendly people. Thumbs up,liked and subscribed 👍🇬🇧

[@halaasen3416]

Thought that was pretty normal given the terrain. That’s how we came in when we landed there. Good photography, no shaking. Must have had a super clean window....but then it is ANZ 😊

[@BayAreaTraveler]

Wow what an epic approach that I've seen! Just spectacular!

[@nigelc22]

Thanks 🙏

[@FrankC321]

When you see the snow capped mountains, green hills, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, you know your home.

[@johnklar5131]

Not I.

[@patkennedy2620]

Nice play on Remarkable! Really enjoyed seeing Queenstown & the incredible scenery again. Hope to return some day when we can travel. We’re in Ireland but have visited NZ twice; next to Ireland of course, it’s the most beautiful country I’ve ever been to , particularly Fjordland & Milford

[@FlyingF1nn]

Beautiful scenic approach, nice catch!

[@binman5233]

Took off from this airport with Jetstar. Doors sealed, taxiing down the runway , no chance of yelling “I’ve forgotten my toothbrush, let me off”, the Captain announced “a turbulent ten minutes until we head north”. The scariest ten minutes of my life. The wing tips I swear were almost touching the peaks ten minutes later. The aircraft was shaking and I am sure was not conforming to aeronautical physics. Funny people the Kiwis, they seem to think this is the onboard entertainment and treated it as if it was a day at the fairground ,which was reassuring . Total respect to the Captain and crew.

[@nigelc22]

Thanks for the entertaining story! Indeed, the mountainous terrain has made for some very turbulent flights for me over the years to and from Queestown!

[@1943L]

Lovely views and great landing.

[@nigelc22]

Thanks 🙏

[@Beeza56]

Really enjoyed that, thank you.

[@nigelc22]

Thanks for your comment 👍🏻

[@shepardbook]

Bucket List!

[@marcy3127]

Will be there in a short while can't wait.

[@dogapart4701]

Wow! Beautiful place.

[@jeffgodon1335]

Got to be the best approach movie on ytube.Brilliant.

[@nigelc22]

Thanks for such a nice comment!

[@voyeur4994]

Wow looks so real!

[@adamdubignon8136]

It's an amazing place for sure and hard to beat in times like this...

[@brendanbayer5002]

Flew out to the west, then went down south arm of Wakatipu, then came round behind Cecil Peak and then headed up over Walter Peak, Wanaka and onto CHC AND a cloudless glorious day...

[@BrotherBluez]

Miss this place.🥰

[@japeking1]

You wait outside the terminal for the bus, or hire car pick up. Just sitting in the Sun, looking at the Remarkables and thinking " I'll just stay here".

[@nigelc22]

Yes, that is so true! It never gets old.

[@legendarymothasthomastengt6861]

😍😍😍 absolutely incredible view

[@Sunnysharma18913]

San Francisco approach is one of the best and night viewos breath taking

[@nigelc22]

Oh yes! I have seen videos of double landings on parallel runways, it’s amazing

[@coover65]

Great video. I was hoping to see the family home that's about 130 years old, but in this it looks like you flew straight over it at the 2:00 mark.

[@nigelc22]

How awesome

[@bb54321abc]

Great video, it is even better coming in from Australia, - you fly down some valleys as well.

[@nigelc22]

Come visit again when the borders reopen

[@nihongo02341]

It must be an amazing place to live. The scenery and photographic opportunities are immense. Any scenery from Lord of the Rings used in the movie close by?

[@sylviagovers8061]

We are hoping to come over to Queenstown in September from Australia if the borders are open for us. We visit Queenstown every year for a week's stay at the Mercure Resort. Favest place in the world for our holiday.

[@gijoe9587]

I would say you've got at least another year to wait. Sorry

[@sylviagovers8061]

@@gijoe9587 I know, hopefully we can get there again sometime in the near future - ish.

[@nigelc22]

Definitely come visit again when borders permit

[@bigtaxrefund]

jaw dropping landscape

[@fabricealibert2323]

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY NEW ZEALAND ! GOD BLESS NEW ZEALAND !

[@AvgeekCarGeek]

Flying into ZQN is definitely beautiful especially on a clear day and in winter

[@paulmendonca4766]

Stunning.

[@video-tourist]

Nice footages!

[@rmk7641]

Very enjoyable! Thanks!

[@andrewfoster259]

Simply stunning

[@VinderGroup3]

Superb great vid 👍🏻

[@nigelc22]

Thank you 🙏

[@redtussock]

Was a common procedural turn approach prior to the new landing system a few years ago, particularly in claggy weather.

[@pluffer241]

I still can't believe how those heavy metal tubes get into the air...

[@ClintEatWood]

That is a nice approach!

[@nigelc22]

Yeah I can never get enough of flying into Queenstown

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Beautiful 👍🇬🇧

[@mikefladgate3714]

Gorgeous! Love from Vancouver

[@santhosm4339]

Hope we will be there soon tnx Queens town❤

[@rwksummit]

awesome video

[@MarkDonnelly-j9v]

Hi i like your video

[@sassytoonsball-ruck58]

Spectacular 🥰🙌

[@685_Era]

Whatttta sight!!

[@80012453]

Great video!

[@vasily2022]

Stunning!

[@idenhlm]

Bungy jumping, paragliding, .. landing an A320 at Queenstown airport.. all a bit of a roll of the dice I reckon.

[@asw19B100]

Looking at final from downwind, it appears to be straight down the mountain, although in reality the final leg seemed routine. Talk about energy management, STOL A320. Are instrument approaches possible here? I didn’t see an ILS.

[@sailorman8668]

There is an RNP AR instrument approach into Queenstown.

[@nigelc22]

Appreciate your comments, thanks

[@donstravelsandrants.]

That was amazing.

[@nigelc22]

Thanks for your comment 👍🏻

[@justaviation8876]

epic video, i might go there once the pandemic is over

[@beagle7622]

You won’t regret it believe me.

[@leerose9436]

Awesome 👍🙏🏻❤️

[@chryssemansmilanes7304]

really nice vid! what focal length is this? it is really immersive!

[@nigelc22]

It was shot on my iPhone 7 Plus, not sure what the equivalent mm focal length would’ve been unfortunately.

[@rafaelfernandez8311]

Excelente maniobra y excelente avión

[@nigelc22]

siempre disfruto la vista

[@11111goldie]

Looked more like a round a bout to me... yss, I git it....Nice CP landing

[@AlexK-wo3xi]

We took a trip to queenstown last year, unfortunately the landing was the roughest I've ever experienced in my whole 20yr long flying history, is it normal there?

[@ncyttvc5384]

It can be if you’re unlucky. The air swirling around the mountains can make it turbulent and the short runway means pilots have to put it down with commitment, but this is more the exception than the rule.

[@Dashdriver8]

Stunning??I was expecting something out of Top Gun..they did circle around a little hill..big whoop🙄

[@robtonge5516]

Forgot how good that view is...

[@seamusblack5876]

The tips at the end of the wings came from nature the Eagle

[@bwrhodes1955]

Boeing winglets methinks...

[@tedmoffat8849]

Gosh!!😮😊

[@jasonjohnstone686]

Looking forward to when aircraft are power by hydrogen, hopefully Air NZ can lead the world with this technology. Cool video thanks for sharing.

[@globe255]

It won't be, it's too dangerous.

[@jasonjohnstone686]

@@globe255 not with the new hydrogen tech coming out, no compressed hydrogen needed to fuel electric motors or turbines. Battery power is just a phase before hydrogen become main stream.

[@globe255]

@@jasonjohnstone686 In the future, moving parts both in the air and the ground will be controlled by satellites. All energy will be created from devices in the air. The energy will be returned from the devices to the satellites, by the satellites. The principle is: Why store energy in the devices when they aren't in use?

[@jasonjohnstone686]

@@globe255 That future is a long way off sorry, the world needs to move with what we got right now. Hydrogen is the best option

[@globe255]

@@jasonjohnstone686 Yes but just think about it doesn't hurt. I'm not sure Hydrogen is a good option at all.

[@alexstepanov678]

Очень красиво! Спасибо за прекрасное видео,пока корона нас держит на земле,хоть так полетаем!

[@nigelc22]

Спасибо!

[@AndrewRod-c5v]

No. This one of two approaches only into queenstown airport !

[@SamBhaOfficial]

Spectacular! Would love to fly into Queensland soon :) what camera were you using?

[@nigelc22]

Thanks Sam, this was just iphone

[@WaffleCake-q7d]

Do you need special certification or training to fly in and out of here?

[@ncyttvc5384]

I’m of the understanding that ZQN requires special training and is a captains-only fly in and out airfield

[@ChrisMatinet]

Wow

[@jesuslovesyou1881]

Very nice , maan times move quickly i was there in queenstown 85 or so , Jesus loves you

[@Seemashe]

Is this loop done manually or on automatic pilot ?

[@lautoka63]

Looking at the way it was flown, I would expect manually.

[@andrewwian4921]

DAH YOU AIR NZ DO YA?

[@gaittr]

Who can name the type of big geologic feature they circled around. And how it came to be

[@brianping3105]

End moraine caused by glaciation?

[@gaittr]

@@brianping3105 VERY NICE! AKA, Terminal Moraine.

[@Lhenry-pf5zn]

Still waiting for the 'loop'.

[@markofsatan9617]

Were you not watching the video?

[@Lhenry-pf5zn]

@@markofsatan9617 Yup, for a 'loop'. This is not a 'loop'.

[@nigelc22]

Me promising an Airbus A320 passenger jet doing a loop is unrealistic, I meant loop in the context of a racecar doing a loop around a racetrack. I have updated the title nonetheless

[@gustavoheberle6265]

What loop , man ??? This was a normal and standard visual approach circuit !!!

[@nigelc22]

I updated the video title, thanks

[@seamusblack5876]

Text book landing

[@Kiwi_NZ610]

Hello air new zealand

[@gerardlangton7221]

I have flown small aircraft fitted with harnesses for the purpose of doing aerobatic or loops. and what saw was no loop , a circuit of Queens town may be , but no loop ,

[@moyadapne968]

I , too, am a pedant. Cambridge Dictionary says 'LOOP. The curved shape when something bends until one part of it nearly touches.' So a horizontal loop, instead of your vertical one.

[@gerardlangton7221]

your interpretation of loop and horizon, are much different when you talking about in flying terms , as said in first comment , your Cambridge offer you JACK nothing

[@josedacunhafilho]

The title to this posting is utterly misleading. Yes, New Zealand does have stunning landscapes, none of which are seen in this clip.

[@fliteshare]

There was no loop at all !

[@malcolmshort2463]

fliteshare I've been retired for many years now but flew many Queenstown flights in from Sydney and Christchurch, using this procedure. Hardly a 'Loop', more accurately a 'circling approach in VMC'. Always very challenging for the flight crews and (if you had time to look outside the aircraft, very spectacular!!

[@InzaneCaver]

Lol. While the aircraft is probably capable of a 'loop' even with their seat belts 'on' I don't think anyone on board would want to look outside and enjoy the scenery. Okay for a roller coaster but not okay for a landing approach. 😉 I think I for one am happy to live with misapplication of the term 'loop' for a 'circuit/circling approach . 👍 Enjoyed the video.

[@nigelc22]

I used loop as in the context of a racecar doing a loop around a racetrack

[@MeaHeaR]

Thatt Boing 747s