Australia’s ice runway in Antarctica is melting just four years after handling its first commercial flight.Built on ice 70 kilmetres inland from Australia’s remote Casey Research Station, the four kilometre long Wilkins Runway was built with the expectation of handling up to 20 flights from Hobart (Tasmania) a season.Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) awarded Skytraders a licence to operate the route, and the first flight operated by an A319 aircraft – carrying Australia’s Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, and 12 scientists – landed on the ice runway on January11, 2008.The much anticipated landing filled the final ‘missing link’ in global air travel for until the opening of Wilkins Runway, and the commencement of regular services, Australia and Antarctica had been the last two continents on the plant not yet linked by air.However, rising temperatures mean that the A$46 million airstrip welcomed just four ‘scientific’ flights last season and Australia's Antarctic Division has scrapped all planned flights in January 2013 due to the condition of the runway.Speaking to The World Today after the latest setback, Australian Antarctic Division chief, Tony Fleming, said: "There are signs there's a long-term warming trend, global warming, and that will make it more difficult to operate this runway in the future.” Source: Airportworld
Gravity always wins!