{{Short description|Australian single runway aerodrome in Antarctica}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox airport | name = Wilkins Aerodrome | nativename = | nativename-a = | nativename-r = | image = | image-width = | caption = | IATA = | ICAO = YWKS | type = Private | owner = | operator = Australian Antarctic Division | city-served = Australian Antarctic Territory | location = Wilkes Land, Antarctica | elevation-f = 2,529 | coordinates = {{coord|66|41|27|S|111|31|25|E|region:AU|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Antarctica | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_label = YWKS | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Antarctica | pushpin_relief = yes | website = | metric-rwy = yes | r1-number = 09T/27T | r1-length-m = 3,200 | r1-surface = Ice | stat-year = | stat1-header = | stat1-data = | footnotes = Sources: Australian AIP aerodrome chart<ref name="AIP">[ https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/pending/dap/WKSAD01-161_07NOV2019.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229093547/https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/pending/dap/WKSAD01-161_07NOV2019.pdf |date=29 February 2020 }} Aeronautical Chart]</ref> }} '''Wilkins Aerodrome'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=n.d. |title=Wilkins Aerodrome |url=https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/travel-and-logistics/aviation/intercontinental-operations/wilkins-aerodrome/ |access-date=1 June 2024 |website=antarctica.gov.au}}</ref> is a single-runway aerodrome operated by Australia, located on upper glacier of the ice sheet Preston Heath, Budd Coast, Wilkes Land, on the continent of Antarctica, but {{Convert|40|km|abbr=on}} southeast of the actual coast. It is named after Sir Hubert Wilkins, a pioneer of Antarctic aviation and exploration.<ref name=awnov10>{{cite news | first = Scmitz | last = Sebastian | title = From Oz to Ice: Flight Operations of the Australia Antarctic Division | work = Airliner World | publisher = Key Publishing Ltd | date = November 2010}}</ref>
==History== Construction of a runway in the Australian Antarctic Territory was first suggested in the 1950s, but logistical, political and environmental issues delayed construction of the runway until 2004.<ref name="smh" /> The A$46 million dollar runway is carved into glacial ice, approximately {{convert|65|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the Australian base at Casey Station.
In order to be approved by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Wilkins must be levelled to runway standard with the use of lasers and requires a crew of eight to maintain the level and friction of the runway before each landing.<ref name=awnov10/>
==Activities== CASA issued an aviation licence for the airline Skytraders to operate passenger flights,<ref>[http://news.smh.com.au/casa-approves-antarctic-flights/20080108-1kub.html CASA approves Antarctic flights] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109122710/http://news.smh.com.au/casa-approves-antarctic-flights/20080108-1kub.html |date=9 January 2008 }}, ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 8 January 2008.</ref> and the first flight was made on 11 January 2008, carrying Australia's Environment Minister Peter Garrett, twelve scientists and six other passengers.<ref>Clarke, Sarah: [https://web.archive.org/web/20080115074625/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/11/2136159.htm Antarctic plane heading home after maiden flight], Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11 January 2008.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130609223914/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23256507/ Australia builds Antarctic ice runway - News - nbcnews.com]</ref>
Flights to Antarctica leave from Hobart Airport in Tasmania using an Airbus 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 the Southern Ocean from Hobart. 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.<ref name="smh">[http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/historic-flight-lands-in-antarctica/2008/01/11/1199988538801.html Historic flight lands in Antarctica] ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 11 January 2008.</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/01/06/290041_tasmania-news.html Meltdown cuts Antarctic flights] ''The Mercury'' 6 January 2012. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610023128/http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/01/06/290041_tasmania-news.html |date=10 June 2012 }}</ref>
In 2015, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Antarctic Division commenced cargo flights from Hobart Airport to Wilkins Runway using C-17 Globemaster aircraft.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-22/raaf-involved-in-first-air-cargo-mission-to-antarctica/6961488 Delivery for Antarctica: RAAF, Antarctic Division complete first air cargo mission to icy continent], "Australian Broadcasting Corporation", 22 November 2015.</ref> The service will also be used for medical evacuations, if required. The C-17 was used as a faster and more frequent alternative to the ''Aurora Australis'' supply vessel.<ref name="c17">{{cite news |title=RAAF operates C-17 proof of concept flights to Antarctica |url=https://australianaviation.com.au/2015/11/raaf-operates-c-17-proof-of-concept-flights-to-antarctica/ |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=Australian Aviation|date=22 November 2015 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
In March 2022, Wilkins reported 15 successful flights.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wings over the ice: Australia lands successful Antarctic aviation season |url=https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2022/wings-over-the-ice-australia-lands-successful-antarctic-aviation-season/ |access-date=27 May 2022|date=22 March 2022}}</ref>
==Airlines and destinations== <!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airline itself are not independent sources. --> {{Airport-dest-list | Skytraders | '''Seasonal Charter:''' Hobart | Royal Air Force | Troll Airfield }}
==See also== * List of airports in territories of Australia * List of airports in Antarctica * Aviation transport in Australia
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.antarctica.gov.au/living-and-working/travel-and-logistics/aviation/intercontinental-operations/wilkins-aerodrome/wilkins-runway-construction-and-maintenance Wilkins Runway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408034601/http://www.antarctica.gov.au/living-and-working/travel-and-logistics/aviation/intercontinental-operations/wilkins-aerodrome/wilkins-runway-construction-and-maintenance |date=8 April 2015 }}, Australian Antarctic Division
{{Portal bar|Australia|Aviation}} {{Airports in Antarctica}} {{Airports in Australia}} {{authority control}}
Category:Airports in Antarctica Category:Australian Antarctic Territory Category:Airports established in 2008 Category:Airports in territories of Australia Category:2008 establishments in Antarctica Category:Ice runways Category:Wilkes Land