News Eye-to-eye with the pilots: the view from 30 metres up 23/03/25 There’s nothing in the training manual about making eye contact with plane passengers while you’re 30 metres up in a bucket. Christchurch International Airport has upgraded all of the high-mast lighting across its domestic and international aprons to LED – a significant investment in both the airport’s infrastructure and its carbon reduction goals. CIAL chose Connetics to deliver the work, and it’s easy to see why the project needed a team comfortable working in demanding environments. The scope covered 28 poles and 88 fittings, starting at 18 metres on the domestic side and climbing to 30 metres at international to cater for the larger aircraft. Every fitting was a slightly different configuration, so nothing was routine. Working airside An active international airport is a different environment to work in. Strict security clearances, specialist driving assessments to operate on the runways right next to the planes, and tight access windows that shift around a schedule you don’t control. All while the airport keeps running its normal operations around you. The mahi was intense. Eighty-eight fittings, each slightly different, across a programme that demanded detailed planning before anyone went up in a bucket. The crew Then there’s the height. Even with solid planning and early morning starts to dodge the worst of it, being 30 metres up in a bucket when an Ōtautahi nor’wester comes through tests your nerve. The team learned new skills specific to the environment, understood the risks, and applied the right controls to get it done safely. We’re grateful to Christchurch International Airport for trusting us with the job. Working airside at an active airport takes real partnership between client and contractor, and CIAL’s team made that straightforward from day one. A massive ngā mihi to our Project Manager Chris, and the crew on the tools: Richard, Joe, Ben, Regan, Michael, and Celestino. You faced down a stressful environment and delivered. Thanks for making it happen. “Every fitting was slightly different and the access windows were tight, but the crew put the work in before they went up. They understood the risks, applied the right controls, got comfortable in an uncomfortable environment, and delivered a brilliant job for our customer.” – Chris, Project Manager
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