11 December
2006 - The Australian Government today announced
the acquisition of an Airbus A319 for use on the
$46.3 million Australian Government Antarctic
Air Service.
The Minister for the Environment
and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, said the announcement
marked an exciting step forward for Australia’s
research and exploration effort in Antarctica.
The air service is expected
to commence flights between Australia and Antarctica
in early 2007.
“The Airbus will help secure
Australia’s position as a world leader in Antarctic
capabilities and research,” Senator Campbell said.
“It will modernise our support
for Australia’s Antarctic programme and allow
researchers to travel between the two continents
much quicker and more safely.
“It will reduce the time it
takes to travel from Australia to Wilkins runway
in Antarctica from 10 days to four hours.
“At the moment, researchers,
scientists, technicians and field staff spend
their time couped up on a ship. The new Airbus
will mean expeditioners can get there quickly
and spend more time on the ice for research.”
Senator Campbell said ships
would continue to be used for marine science,
transporting some passengers and re-supplying
stations.
“We estimate 10 to 20 flights
of the Air Service will be conducted each summer
once the system is fully operational,” Senator
Campbell said.
“The intercontinental capability
of the A319 will complement the current fleet
of Antarctic-based helicopters and CASA 212s which
now fly personnel to field locations and between
Australia’s stations with Antarctica.
“The A319 is scheduled to make
its delivery flight to Australia in late January
2007 with its inaugural flight to the new Wilkins
runway expected in early February 2007. The air
service is expected to be fully operational for
the 2007-08 Antarctic season.”
The A319 will be leased and
operated by Skytraders Pty Ltd of Sydney. The
initial lease period for the Airbus A319 will
be for five years beginning in late January 2007.
Construction of a snow-capped
ice runway began in December 2005 and will continue
during the 2006/07 summer season.
Rob Broadfield
