Queenstown Airport (Tasmania)

The Queenstown Airport is a former airport, now an unregistered landing ground located at Howard's Plains west of Queenstown, Tasmania, Australia.Early proposals and debatesThe provision of an aerodrome in the 1930s had been a topical point of debate in Queenstown, and moves to constructThe aerodrome was constructed in the late 1930s from funding from the Commonwealth government for municipal aerodromesIt was in use the 1937, but not without difficulties being encounteredEarly proposals of regular passenger services to the aerodrome were made in the late 1940s and early 1950sHowever upgrades and improvements were noted in 1940 to be required for the aerodrome to be licensed for passenger trafficIt is claimed the first passenger landed at the aerodrome in 1946In 1950 serious doubts were being addressed about the unreliable weather conditions at the aerodrome However, in 1953, there was a serious proposal to promote the licence for the aerodrome for emergency medical transportOperational eraIn 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 statusThe airspace is controlled from Melbourne Airport in Victoria. There are currently no regular passenger flights to Queenstown or Strahan 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