Airbus A319 from Christchurch to McMurdo, Antarctica

In 2007 the Australian Antarctic Division decided that sending scientists to their Antarctic bases by icebreakers was too slow and decided to try using a small long range passenger jet aircraft.

To gain an official licence to operate in the Antarctic and landing on an ice runway it was necessary for the successful tenderer, Air Traders of Melbourne, to do a series of flights from Christchurch to McMurdo Sound where the safety of the aircraft and its landing could be properly monitored. The first flight took place early in November 2007. This postcard shows the aircraft at McMurdo after this first flight.

The postcard itself was printed later that week and was itself carried on the next flight to McMurdo on 22 November where it was postmarked at McMurdo Base and also given the White Ice Runway cachet applied by the US Runway crew.