KEY POINTS:
My wife and I live in Mangere, quite near the flight path for international flights in and out of Auckland Airport. The aircraft create so much noise that radio, TV and normal conversation are totally drowned out. In addition to the daily flights, there is no night-time curfew at the airport, so our sleep is constantly broken by the sounds of aircraft taking off and landing. Why do these flights have to be over residential property? Why can't they take off and land over the harbour? And why is there no night-time curfew? Dennis Gollop, Mangere Central.
I talked to a senior pilot of my acquaintance about this. He said aircraft must normally take off and land into the wind, so the initial flight direction depends on the wind direction.
However, between 11pm and 6am, Air Traffic Control will try to direct traffic to take off to the west and land towards the east, which keeps aircraft away from the city.
This can happen only if the wind is within limits acceptable to the pilot, and he or she has the final say.
Curfews over cities are possible; for example, Sydney Airport has a curfew between midnight and 6am.
The downside of this is that acurfew drastically reduces thecapability of the expensive airport infrastructure.
Another factor is that only three airports in New Zealand can take B747 or larger aircraft, and a curfew would seriously affect airline operations. It all comes down to money in the end.
A dangerous practice has developed in recent weeks on the Northern Motorway. Between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, when northbound traffic is almost stationary, impatient drivers are exiting at the Northcote turnoff but continuing straight ahead, across Northcote Rd, and back on to the motorway onramp, getting ahead of about 50 vehicles patiently waiting in the queue. Is anything going to be done to remedy this increasingly common and exceedingly dangerous antic? Colin Harper, Takapuna, Dave Hart, North Shore, and Phil Parker, North Shore.
More signs have been installed to curb this behaviour, as you've probably noticed.
On the offramp, there is a sign that says left or right turn only. There are also arrows on the road, showing that turning movements only are allowed. The traffic lights at the top of the ramp have a right-turn arrow, so any motorist going straight ahead is breaking the law at least three times.
The police have been made aware of the practice, and will be on the lookout for transgressors. You have been warned.
When are you allowed to drive down a flush median? In Auckland's congested traffic, it's not uncommon to see vehicles driving sometimes 100m to 200m along a flush median to get to a turning point down the road. This seems to be dangerous, as vehicles can turn on to the median from both directions. Barry Wood, Cockle Bay.
Flush medians are white diagonal lines painted down the centre of some streets.
They are called flush because they are not raised, although some do have raised islands to provide pedestrian refuges.
Flush medians should be used only just before a turn, or when you want to turn right and the adjacent lane is blocked.
You can also use them to turn into a driveway, or to merge left into a gap in the traffic. It is an offence to use a flush median for overtaking, or to park on one.
