Although air transport represents only 2% of global CO2 emmissions, the aviation industry is doing lots to reduce the lifecycle environmental footprint.

Airports in New Zealand have reformed their 'Environmental Committee' to help advance practical ways in which airports in this part of the world can positively impact environmental matters and support initiatives across airports.

Take a look at EnviroAero to see what the industry is doing to be environmentally-friendly when you fly.

Air New Zealand is understood to be planning major changes to its regional fare structure, including deep discounts in return for an annual fee to attract more business fliers as the economy recovers.

Media coverage in April/May of this year highlighted passenger dissatisfaction with domestic fares available in the Manawatu.

A white blanket of snow now covers the mountain down to low levels and the snowmaking crews have been making snow every chance they get. There was even snow in Ohakune and National Park the other day!

The lifts will be operating daily 9am to 4pm - of course subject to weather!

Whakapapa is due to open for the winter season on Saturday 26 June. Its easy to keep an eye on the conditions on the mountain with this link.

The new descriptors are to comply with International Civil Aviation Organisation recommendations.

Along with many other New Zealand airports, the historic labels for the taxiways and aircraft holding points don't strictly align with international standards.

From July the taxiways are named by letters instead of numbers. Holding points are named by Taxiway plus a number.

Taxiways 1, 2 and 3 will become 'Taxiway B', 'Taxiway C' and 'Taxiway D' respectively labelled from east to west. Holding points will be 'B1', 'B2' etc.

Roy Bodell, operations manager, explains that the new labelling and signage will improve safety because consistent signage and layouts between airports will reduce the risk of misinterpretation.

"Pilots will also notice that the holding points for maintaining clearance from the grass runway are now separately labelled and signed" said Mr Bodell.

The changes will be published in the next edition of the AIP. A simplified diagram is available here.

Mr Bodell says he expects to be asked what happened to 'Taxiway A' as it won't exist. "Thats a descriptor reserved for the possibility of a new taxiway in the future to provide for backtracking to the eastern end of the runway without disrupting runway use".

'Yankee' and 'Whiskey' will no longer feature in the fond memories of student pilots training at Palmerston North!

Airport operations manager Roy Bodell said the work had been delayed over the last week as a consequence of weather.

The Airport Drive link to Railway Road is already becoming well used. The new roundabout will highlight the terminal access road and facilitate turning traffic at the intersection.

The roundabout will complete the airport entrance road works.

The only change is to section 7.1 and 7.2 to cover the After Hours Communication Procedures (as per AIP Supplement 58/10, 59/10, 61/10 and 60/10).

The call sign for the area has changed from "Ohakea Traffic" to "Christchurch Information" as Flight Information in Christchurch is now providing clearance and flight information for the area.

Visitors to the area will follow normal procedures as per the AIP. VFR traffic must still make position reports in the area and are requested to keep talking to a minimum.

The current document is dated 'effective April 2010' and is available on the web at www.pnairport.co.nz/airport.php.

Engineering manager support systems, Phil Byrne says that Fieldair have provided a full range of overhauls and support for Lycoming, Continental, and Pratt and Whitney aircraft engines for many years.

"Changes in the procedures for installing and overhauling current technology Lycoming engines has necessitated new approvals for this type of work" said Mr Byrne.

"This now sets us up for the iE2 Lycoming engines which are the latest breakthrough propulsion system coming on stream."

He said that it is important that Fieldair keeps up to date with its system approvals across its whole range of services.

Fieldair is now one of the few firms in the world approved to fully overhaul radial engines such as those used on DC-3s, Beavers, and Harvards - well done Fieldair.