I've still curious about this flying. Maybe there is more detail to come which will fill in the gaps in the story. The desirability of year round access is obvious if it can be done safely. I would have thought that parts of Siberia and Alaska and Spitzbergen where winter temperatures and flying conditions are at least as severe in parts as Antarctica would have sorted out the issues. Wouldn't modern GPS navigation work adequately, especially as their were then and must now be more modern navigational aides at McMurdo?