Wilkins Aerodrome | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Private | ||||||||||
| Operator | Australian Antarctic Division | ||||||||||
| Serves | Australian Antarctic Territory | ||||||||||
| Location | Wilkes Land,Antarctica | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 2,529 ft / 771 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 66°41′27″S111°31′25″E / 66.69083°S 111.52361°E /-66.69083; 111.52361 | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  YWKS Location in Antarctica | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Sources: AustralianAIP aerodrome chart[1] | |||||||||||
Wilkins Aerodrome[2] is a single-runwayaerodrome operated byAustralia, located on upper glacier of the ice sheetPreston Heath,Budd Coast,Wilkes Land, on the continent ofAntarctica, but 40 km (25 mi) southeast of the actual coast. It is named after SirHubert Wilkins, a pioneer ofAntarctic aviation and exploration.[3]
Construction of a runway in theAustralian Antarctic Territory was first suggested in the 1950s, but logistical, political and environmental issues delayed construction of the runway until 2004.[4] TheA$46 million dollar runway is carved intoglacial ice, approximately 65 km (40 mi) from the Australian base atCasey Station.
In order to be approved by Australia'sCivil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Wilkins must be levelled to runway standard with the use oflasers and requires a crew of eight to maintain the level and friction of the runway before each landing.[3]
CASA issued an aviation licence for the airlineSkytraders to operate passenger flights,[5] and the first flight was made on 11 January 2008, carrying Australia'sEnvironment MinisterPeter Garrett, twelve scientists and six other passengers.[6][7]
Flights to Antarctica leave fromHobart Airport inTasmania using anAirbus A319, and the flight takes around four hours. Prior to the runway's completion, the trip to Antarctica involved a ten-day journey by ship across theSouthern Ocean fromHobart. The runway operates only during the Antarctic summer, and twenty to thirty flights per season are planned. The flights are used to transport scientists conducting Antarctic research, and are not available for tourist flights.[4] However, since the opening of the runway, no more than 10 flights in one season have been achieved. This is primarily due to environmental conditions at the site, temperatures being warmer and causing melt of the runway, thus decreasing the window of opportunity to use the runway. As of January 2012, only four flights were planned for the summer season and all in February 2012.[8]
In 2015, theRoyal Australian Air Force and theAustralian Antarctic Division commenced cargo flights from Hobart Airport to Wilkins Runway usingC-17 Globemaster aircraft.[9] The service will also be used for medical evacuations, if required. The C-17 was used as a faster and more frequent alternative to theAurora Australis supply vessel.[10]
In March 2022, Wilkins reported 15 successful flights.[11]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Skytraders | Seasonal Charter:Hobart |
| Royal Air Force | Troll Airfield |
