A new airline wants to use a civilian variant of the leviathan Hercules aircraft to airlift building materials to Chevron's massive Gorgon gas project off Barrow Island in Western Australia's north.
Newly formed company Stallion Aviation has asked the Shire of Roebourne to let it fly a Lockheed 382 aircraft, the civilian version of the C-130 Hercules, from Karratha Airport to Barrow Island from December this year.
Stallion aims to conduct the 18-month Hercules airlift for Chevron Corporation during the LNG plant's construction phase.
The aircraft would be a crucial part of the operation, because there is no deep water port on Barrow Island.
Roebourne Shire officers have advised there are no operational limitations to prevent a Hercules operating from Karratha.
Under the plan, Stallion would lease an undeveloped block of land for use as a freight storage facility, and an area of runway apron from which to operate the Hercules and allow for loading and unloading to take place.
On August 10, the West Australian government gave its final environmental approval for the Gorgon project - which will be Australia's largest resources foray.
If approved, Stallion's plans would be a boon for the council-owned airport which would garner $160,000 in rent if the proposed 18-month lease and six-month extension run their full length.
The main financial benefit to the airport however would be the expected $6 million landing fees over the two year period, estimated on the Hercules' maximum take-off weight of 70 tonnes and on four return flights from Karratha to Barrow Island per day.
Karratha Airport is WA's second busiest, behind Perth Airport.
