Queenstown Airport (Tasmania)

The Queenstown Airport (IATA: UEE, ICAO: YQNS) (also known as Howard's Plains aerodrome, Queenstown aerodrome, Queenstown Air Strip, or Queenstown landing ground) is a former airport, now an unregistered landing ground located at Howard's Plains west of Queenstown, Tasmania, Australia.

For other uses of "Queenstown Airport", see Queenstown Airport (disambiguation).

Queenstown Airport
Summary
Airport typeunregistered landing strip
OwnerWest Coast Council
OperatorWest Coast Council
LocationQueenstown, Tasmania
Elevation AMSL866 ft / 264 m
Coordinates42°04′32″S 145°31′48″E
Map
YQNS
Location in Tasmania
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
09/27 4,001 ft (1,220 m) long Asphalt

Early proposals and debates

The provision of an aerodrome in the 1930s had been a topical point of debate in Queenstown, and moves to construct.[1][2]

The aerodrome was constructed in the late 1930s from funding from the Commonwealth government for municipal aerodromes.[3][4][5]

It was in use the 1937,[6] but not without difficulties being encountered.[7]

Early proposals of regular passenger services to the aerodrome were made in the late 1940s and early 1950s.[8][9][10]

However upgrades and improvements were noted in 1940 to be required for the aerodrome to be licensed for passenger traffic.[11]

It is claimed the first passenger landed at the aerodrome in 1946.[12]

In 1950 serious doubts were being addressed about the unreliable weather conditions at the aerodrome.[13][14] However, in 1953, there was a serious proposal to promote the licence for the aerodrome for emergency medical transport.[15][16]

Operational era

In the 1970s both Queenstown and Strahan Airports were open and registered with regular passenger services, and if weather conditions were difficult at Queenstown, Strahan would be the alternative landing location. Airlines of Tasmania ran the service.

Current status

The airspace is controlled from Melbourne Airport in Victoria. There are currently no regular passenger flights to Queenstown from other airports in Tasmania.

The landing ground, even though it is unregistered, is owned and controlled by the West Coast council, from whom permission to use must be gained before landing.[17][18][19]

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See also

References
  1. "QUEENSTOWN AERODROME". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas. 9 August 1934. p. 3. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "West Coast News and Views". The Advocate (DAILY ed.). Burnie, Tas. 12 June 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia. see also "QUEENSTOWN AERODROME". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas. 8 June 1935. p. 11. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "QUEENSTOWN AERODROME". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas. 6 August 1938. p. 5 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Queenstown Aerodrome". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas. 20 November 1939. p. 6 Edition: LATE NEWS EDITION and DAILY. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "QUEENSTOWN AERODROME". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas. 12 June 1940. p. 9 Edition: LATE NEWS EDITION and DAILY. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "DE HAVILIAND MOTH". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas. 15 June 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "'PLANE DAMAGED IN LANDING". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas. 18 February 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ""FEEDER" AIR SERVICES AROUND STATE". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas. 1 August 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "WEST COAST NEWS". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas. 1 April 1949. p. 9. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "WEST COAST NEWS". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas. 15 May 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "AERODROME AT QUEENSTOWN". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas. 23 February 1940. p. 5 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "PASSENGER LANDS ON QUEENSTOWN AERODROME". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas. 25 March 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "AERODROME PROPOSAL". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas. 14 April 1950. p. 9. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "Weather Factor In Airfield Choice". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas. 14 April 1950. p. 20. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "West Coast News". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas. 28 March 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 20 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "URGES EMERGENCY 'DROME LICENCE". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas. 28 March 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 20 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. West Coast council information about the ground
  18. – for map of relationship with Strahan
  19. Airport guide information
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