Written by ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
A COMPLETE absence of light and -40 degree Celsius temperatures greeted the crew of a RNZAF C-130H Hercules on a rare medical evacuation flight Antarctica on June 27.
The patient was an American worker from McMurdo Station; he was reported in a stable condition with a non-life threatening condition which required medical treatment that cannot be carried out in Antarctica.
RNZAF Air Component Commander Air Commodore Andy Scott says flights to Antarctica at this time of year are very challenging due to the extreme environment, changeable weather and utter lack of daylight.
Apart from flying in a combat environment, night missions to Antarctica in winter are considered the most dangerous conditions.
The 40 Squadron Hercules crew flew into Phoenix Airfield at Antarctica using night vision goggles; the first time RNZAF pilots used this was in July 2021 for another medical evacuation from the South Pole; one of the pilots on this mission also flew on that mission.
The Hercules, which is not equipped with skis, flew from RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai) to Christchurch on Tuesday, June 25, in preparation for the flight.
NZ7001 left Christchurch at 2am, touched down at Phoenix Airfield at 8.50am and left after 10am for the eight-hour flight back to Christchurch. It returned to Auckland on Friday, June 28.
At least one USAF ski-equipped LC-130 remains at Christchurch, after the others flew home to New York, but is undergoing an maintenance overhaul (repainting).
The aircraft was “hot fuelled” on the ice, where the engines are kept running to protect them in the extreme cold. The temperature in Antarctica was minus 33° Celsius with a wind chill reducing temperatures down to -40°C.
“With a narrow gap of acceptable weather, the crew deployed early …,” Air Commodore Scott said.
“The weather deteriorated again on arrival so they threaded the needle to get in when they did.”
Air Commodore Scott said at each stage of the journey the crew had to make “go, no go” decisions on whether to proceed.
“Our highly trained crew analyse the conditions every step of the way to ensure they can continue. Last night the weather conditions looked suitable, which enabled them to proceed in the early hours of this morning.”
Work by McMurdo Station staff to prepare the ice runway at Phoenix Airfield (clearing snow and compacting it) were done by Wednesday, June 26.
With no airfields to divert to en-route, the aircraft had to be refuelled in Antarctica before its return to Christchurch.
“The pilots have a point of no safe return when they make the decision to continue or turn around, known as a `boomerang’,” Air Commodore Scott said.
“We’re very pleased we have been able to successfully carry out this Antarctica flight and get the patient to New Zealand to receive further medical treatment.”
Tasman Aircraft 