Midnight Oil

Subject: Antarctica an incredible experience: Garrett
From: Nathan Arrowsmith
Date: 11/01/2008, 3:31 pm
To: "Powderworks@yahoo" <powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au>

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/11/2136644.htm

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has praised the efforts of 
the people who have worked to establish a passenger air link between 
Australia to Antarctica.

The Airbus A319 left Hobart last night and landed at Wilkins Runway, 70 
kilometres from Casey Station.

It flew back into Hobart this morning.

The Australian Antarctic Division hopes to make the trip about 20 times 
each year to expand the organisation's research.

Mr Garrett says the flight is a significant achievement.

"To descend out of the sky across this Antarctic continent and see a 
beautifully constructed airstrip on blue ice in the middle of this vast 
Antarctic expanse was a really incredible experience," he said.

Mr Garrett believes the air link will boost Australia's scientific 
research on the continent.

"It's taken years and years and years, but we now have an opportunity to 
greatly expand the visitation by scientists to Antarctica," he said.




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