Up to 2002
On the basis of a 1982 examination of options for inter-continental air transport system, the Government agreed in 1983 to a study of the feasibility of building a compressed snow runway near Casey. The runway was to be Antarctic terminus for RAAF wheeled Hercules flights from Hobart. It was to be the first stage of a full air transport system for the three Antarctic stations, which was to eventually include a large rock runway near Davis, and an ice runway near Mawson. Smaller fixed-wing aircraft were to provide inter-station transport as well as supporting field parties and airborne research. Despite successful snow-compaction trials in 1983-84, the Government decided not to provide further funding and all work was suspended in 1984.
Air transport options were re-examined in 1989, resulting in a recommendation for a simplified version of the 1983 proposal involving wheeled Hercules flights to a compressed snow runway near Casey, and small or medium-sized aircraft flying from Casey to runways near Davis and Mawson. Trial construction of a compressed snow runway was undertaken near Casey during the 1989-90 summer in preparation for a planned RAAF Hercules C130 trial flight late that season. Poor weather and heavy snowfalls at the time of the planned flight prevented it from going ahead, and the project was not resumed in subsequent seasons.
In 1996, Dr Valery Klokov of the Russian Antarctic Expedition undertook a study of the feasibility of establishing a snow or ice runway in East Antarctica between 60° E and 120° E longitude. This study determined that the Casey area provided the best site for construction and operation of a compacted snow runway. Subsequent studies by Klokov, undertaken for the AAD and completed in April 1999, concluded that opportunities also existed for compacted snow runway construction near the Larsemann Hills and for use of a blue ice runway near the Vestfold Hills. These studies provided very useful input into the Antarctic Air Transport Scoping Study conducted during 1998.
