Aust. flights to McMurdo from Chch

Press, 11 January 1978, Page 4

Aust. flights to McMurdo from Chch

PA Canberra Australia has announced details of its co-operation: with New Zealand and the United States m air transport to Antarctica, according to the Minister for Science (Senator James Webster)' yesterday The only access to Austra-i han Antarctic territory at' present is by ship. Senator Webster said that the co-operative venture between the three countries would begin next November and December with four Royal Australian Air Force! flights between Christchurch, and the United States station at McMurdo Sound. This would be in exchange for two United States Air Force flights between McMurdo Sound and the Australian station at Casey. Senator Webster said that by permitting more shortterm visits to Antarctica by j Australian expeditioners dur-[ ing the summer, the co-l operative flights would give an important boost to Aus traha’s Antarctic operations. He said that the Department of Science, in co-oper-ation with other depar: - ments. had already made a detailed survey of a site for an airstrip near the Austra- i

han Antarctic station at I Davis station. He expected that direct air! transport between Australia and its Antarctic territory! would eventually become a reality. However, the Department of Science's Antarctic Division would continue to use I ships as the predominant means of transporting ex-: peditioners, supplies and equipment to Antarctica. I.t preparation for the forthcoming co-operative, flights, representatives of ■ the R.A.A.F. and the Antarc-j I tic Division have already: visited McMurdo Sound toj 'become familiar with New Zealand and American flight: operations and the ice runways. The R.A.A.F. will use the' new C-139H Hercules aircraft for the flights between Christchurch and McMurdo. > On the flights between | McMurdo Sound and Casey' station, a distance of more j than 2000 kilometres, the ; United States will use skiequipped Hercules. In preparation for the. regular flights R.A.A.F. crews will participate in a i New Zealand Antarctic survival course in the Ross , Island area in New Zealand’s, Antarctic territory late this; I year.