Nelson Airport and the coastal suburb of Monaco just got a little bit closer as work to move flight navigation equipment closer to the peninsula nears completion.
Nelson Airport and Airways New Zealand have moved the site of its DVOR/DME navigation aid away from the terminal to airport-owned land on Point Rd.
An Airways NZ spokesperson said the relocation operation was on schedule with the build in Monaco almost finalised.
All foundation and structural works were now complete and the installation of antennas and navigation equipment was currently underway.
Airways NZ expected to commence flight testing between August 1-5.
Following regulatory approvals the navigation aid should be in use by November.
Nelson Airport CEO Rob Evans previously said the location was one of the few places the equipment could go due to technical requirements and land that was able to be developed in the area.
Located directly in line with the runway, the equipment has been tucked into an excavated area to avoid interference with airspace and signal obstruction.
He said the airport needed to prepare for future growth and make a start on its long-term plan, which included a new terminal redevelopment to be announced shortly.
With the majority of works completed, Monaco residents now had a clearer picture of what the planned installation looked like.
Chrissie Keay, a Monaco resident for more than 40 years, said she had no problems with the construction process in recent months but said she was disappointed by the aesthetic of the structure and a perceived lack of consultation on the matter.
"It was meant to be discreet but I don't think you could call it that," she said.
"Being near the airport is all part of living in Monaco, but let me put it this way - would you want that in your back yard?"
It is understood that Nelson Airport were in discussions with Monaco residents regarding a beautification project on the surrounding airport land.
DVOR stands for Doppler VHF Omni-directional radio range and is the second generation version of the original VOR short-range radio navigation system for aircraft.
Typically accompanying VOR ground stations, DME stands for distance measuring equipment and is used by aircraft to determine their distance from a land-based transponder.
- Stuff
TIM O'CONNELL
Last updated 08:58, July 21 2016