Horse Hair Plain Aerodrome

Obsolescence and replacement. The construction of the nearby Mount Hotham Airport provided a far superior facility with a paved, 1453-meter runway, modern navigation aids (NDB, GPS), and the ability to handle larger aircraft in a wider range of weather conditions. The new airport made the rudimentary, unsealed, and weather-dependent Horse Hair Plain airstrip redundant for providing reliable access to the ski resort.

The site is located within the Alpine National Park and is no longer an active or officially recognized aerodrome. The outline of the former runway is still clearly visible on satellite imagery as a long, straight clearing in the vegetation. The strip is unmaintained and has reverted to a simple track, likely used by hikers, cross-country skiers, and for Parks Victoria management vehicle access. There are no remaining aviation facilities on the site.

Horse Hair Plain Aerodrome was a basic, unsealed dirt and grass airstrip that served as an early air access point to the Mount Hotham ski fields and the surrounding Alpine National Park. It was primarily used by general aviation pilots in small, STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) capable aircraft for private and limited charter flights. Operations were strictly limited to Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in daylight hours and were highly dependent on favorable weather, as the strip could become unusable after rain or snow. It played a vital role in supporting tourism and providing access for park management and emergencies before a modern, all-weather airport was established in the region.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Horse Hair Plain Aerodrome. The existence of the fully operational and superior Mount Hotham Airport (YHOT) just a few kilometers away makes the reopening of this primitive airstrip both unnecessary and economically unviable. Furthermore, its location within a protected National Park presents significant environmental and regulatory hurdles that make any future development for aviation purposes extremely unlikely.