The 1,500-foot bridge and
approach paths will let nature lovers, joggers and bicyclists get from the neighborhoods east of Delta Highway to Delta Ponds, a 150-acre natural area interspersed with ponds bisected by the highway.
The NACO version shows only one path to the runway--a solid line--descent from the FAF followed by a "V" for the visual descent point (VDP) 2.0 miles from the runway, followed by the dotted missed
approach path later--and lower--on the profile.
The pilot later stated he was above the glide path shown by the four-light precision
approach path indicator system.
The system is reportedly able to calculate a more exact time of arrival for aircraft, and air traffic controllers can use a data link to inform the aircraft's flight management computer of the correct
approach path to use, enabling the speed and
approach path to be adjusted accordingly.
In fact, what was photographed was a "PAPI" (Precision
Approach Path Indicator).
On Saturday (9 April), Qantas flight QF43 from Sydney, carrying 336 passengers, was coming in to land at Auckland International Airport when air traffic controllers spotted an unidentified aircraft tracking toward its
approach path. QF43 was ordered to abort the approach, turn right toward Auckland and climb to 3,000ft (914m).
However, the flight
approach path to the proposed runway is close to the Ticona chemical plant, prompting concerns of an environmental disaster in the event of a crash.