1.1.1A Summer 0607

Names of Summer stations/bases and field camps (region, latitude and longitude), operating period, maximum population and medical support available.

Name:WILKINS CAMP
Coordinates:

66°41'22"S, 111°29'09"E;WGS84

Camp position will be within 2000m of this point.
Region:Upper Peterson Glacier, Wilkes Land.The camp (and Wilkins runway) is located on an ablation zone, 65km SE of Casey Station.
Date established:Jan 2003
Date last examined:Mar 2007
Operating period:October-March
Purpose:Sled based field camp to support runway operations through summer.Camp is closed and positioned onto a raised snow berm over winter.
Accommodation facilities, including food, fuel, etc:

Summer:

Permanent accommodation is for six runway staff and two additional beds for transit personnel.Emergency accommodation is available for up to 40 (tent style).

Consumables, including fuel, are resupplied from Casey Station approximately each seven days during summer.

Facilities include: light engineering, power generation (240V, 50hz), messing and ablutions.

Winter:

Most equipment is left at the site on a winter berm.All facilities/equipment are decommissioned and cold soaked.
Medical facilities:Comprehensive field medical kit on site during summer occupation.Staff members are trained in first aid and crash rescue operations.A doctor is located at Casey.
Surface Transport:

Plant: dozers D7R & D7H; motor grader 14H; snow blowers x2; tracked tractors MT865B & 65B; loader 966G.

Vehicles: Hagglunds BV-206, Skidoo, 4x4 utility.

Communications

Wilkins Runways is Secondary Air Information Station (SAIS).

Callsign: 'Wilkins Runway'

International Marine VHF:

Ch 10- aircraft operations

Ch 8- aircraft alternate and camp operations

HF, Airband VHF and Iridium available.

Note: Casey Station, call sign 'VNJ Casey', is the Primary Air Information Station (PAIS) and monitors Airband 129.7 Mhz and 121.1 Mhz during periods of operation.

Name:LAW RACOVITA BASE
Coordinates:69°23'S, 76°23'
Region:The Larsemann Hills are an ice-free area 110 km southwest of Davis in Princess Elizabeth Land. The hills are bounded in the east by the Dalk Glacier and in the west by the Polararboken Glacier. Numerous lakes and fjords and peninsulas dominate the area. Due to its proximity to the plateau, the area is subject to katabatic winds early in the day but has reliably fine afternoon weather. Law Base is walking distance to the Chinese station of Zhongshan and the Russian station of Progress. Australia has worked with China and the Russian Federation to draft a management plan, which would declare the region an ASMA.
Date established:Established 5 February 1986 and further developed during 1986/87.
Date last examined:Frequently.
Operating period:In 2005 a 10 year Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Australia and Romania for joint use of this base.
Purpose:Used in summer by field personnel in support of scientists studying the formation of the Larsemanns and the lakes there.
Accommodation facilities, including food, fuel, etc:The base is located on the eastern peninsula and comprises two Apple huts, three Melon huts, a large prefabricated hut and a small metal shed. Accommodates 13 persons. HF and VHF radio antennas are permanently on the site.
Medical facilities:Comprehensive field medical kit available during summer occupation. Only for emergency use.

Name:PRINCE CHARLES MOUNTAINS - BEAVER LAKE
Coordinates:70°48'S, 68°10'E
Region:The Prince Charles Mountains (PCMs) includes all the mountain areas around by the Lambert Glacier and the Amery ice Shelf, in Mac. Robertson Land. There are numerous mountain ranges and nunataks varying between 1000 m and 3000 m in height. Beaver Lake Base is on the western side of Beaver Lake by the northern shore of Pagadroma George and was established in 1995. The continental ice sheet is highest in the west and east and falls into the trough of the Lambert. The topography within the northern region is variable. The Aramis and Porthos Ranges consist of sharp peaks, with sheer rock faces and large wind scours. In the area of the Beaver Lake and Mawson Escarpment there are mainly rounded mountains with rubble surfaces.
Operating period:Summer 2006/07
Date established:Beaver Lake: established January 1995.
Date last examined:Frequently
Purpose:Used to support Northern Prince Charles Mountains and Amery Ice Shelf operations.
Accommodation facilities, including food, fuel, etc:Accommodates 10 persons in total (4 Apple huts). Camping gear. Some field rations and 5 x 200L drums of petrol.
Medical facilities:Comprehensive field medical kit only available during summer occupation.

Name:EDGEWORTH DAVID BASE (Bunger Hills)
Coordinates:66°15'S, 100°36'E
Description:Approximately 440 km west of Casey and 85 km inland from the Shackleton Ice Shelf in the Bunger Hills region, Wilkes Land. Winds are generally easterly and can be particularly strong on the eastern side of the hills. The Denman and Scott Glaciers both generate strong katabatic winds due to the sharpness of their final descent to the coastal shelf ice. Permanent sea ice exists in many areas. However, the ice in tidal passages in the Thomas and Charnockite Island areas and in the north near the Highjump Archipelago are particularly liable to break up in late January and February. An area of permanent sea ice, 4000 m long and 2 m thick, suitable as a runway for large aircraft, can be found on the western side of the Bunger Hills beside Edgeworth David. A glacier blue ice runway area is located to the south at Grace Rocks on the Apfel Glacier.
Date established:1986
Operating period:Summer 2006/07
Date last examined:Feb 2004
Purpose:A summer base.
Accommodation facilities, including food, fuel, etc:The base consists of two Apple huts and two Melon huts and can accommodate 6-8 people.
Medical facilities:Nil

This page was last modified on 12 August 2010.