Queenstown Airport, Tasmania

Queenstown Airport
Queenstown aerodrome pictured from the south west, taken in the early 2000s. Queenstown and the Mt Lyell lease are in upper right of picture.
IATA: UEE ICAO: YQNS
Summary
Airport type	unregistered landing strip
Owner	West Coast Council
Operator	West Coast Council
Location	Queenstown, Tasmania
Elevation AMSL	866 ft / 264 m
Coordinates	42°04′32″S 145°31′48″E / 42.07556°S 145.53000°E / -42.07556; 145.53000Coordinates: 42°04′32″S 145°31′48″E / 42.07556°S 145.53000°E / -42.07556; 145.53000
Map
YQNS Location in Tasmania
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 09/27 4,001 ft (1,220 m) long Asphalt

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.

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

The aerodrome was constructed in the late 1930s from funding from the Commonwealth government for municipal aerodromes

It was in use the 1937, but not without difficulties being encountered

Early proposals of regular passenger services to the aerodrome were made in the late 1940s and early 1950s

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

It is claimed the first passenger landed at the aerodrome in 1946

In 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 transport

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.

The 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