FED: Federal Government launches flight to the Antarctic

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2006
FED: Federal Government launches flight to the Antarctic

SYDNEY, Dec 11 AAP - Australia's Antarctic research efforts have been given a major
boost, with the federal government announcing the acquisition of an Airbus A319 to transport
scientists to Casey Station.

Scientists, researchers and technicians have until now relied on ships to get to their
research post at Casey Station in the Antarctic - a gruelling trip that took up to ten
days.

Starting next summer, Australia's Antarctic researchers will be able to fly from Hobart
to the new runway near Casey Station cutting travel time down to four hours.

Announcing the acquisition of the Airbus today in Sydney, Environment Minister Ian
Campbell said the new plane would make Australia a world leader in Antarctic research.

"It will modernise our support for Australia's Antarctic program and allow researchers
to travel between the two continents much quicker," Senator Campbell told reporters in
Sydney.

"Again in the past, if you were a scientist and wanted to go to Antarctica ... you
had to put aside three, five or six months of your life, travel down across the roughest
ocean in the world and risk getting stuck down there if you get iced in.

"This aircraft service will allow scientists to fly down in just four hours, do the
research for the period of time they want to, and come back."

The airbus will be leased and operated by a private contractor and paid for by the
government's $46.3 million Australian Government Antarctic Air Service.

AAP ab/kaj/klw/jt/de

KEYWORD: ANTARCTIC CAMPBELL

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