An extraordinary helicopter relay is racing the clock and the weather at Australia’s most remote Antarctic outpost, capping a tough summer for the Antarctic program.
A complex aerial resupply mission is underway in Antarctica. Picture: Brett Free
Source: News Corp Australia
Heavy ice conditions near Mawson station have prevented the icebreaker getting into Horseshoe Harbour for the annual station resupply.
The closest the ship can approach is the edge of the continental fast ice, 75km away.
It means everything required for the station for the winter months – from food to fuel and incoming expe*ditioners – must be flown to the station by helicopter.
Australian Antarctic Division director Tony Fleming said four helicopters aboard the Aurora had so far flown 163 sorties from the Aurora’s helideck, transporting 70 tonnes of high-priority cargo and 50,000 litres of special Antarctic blend fuel.
“The sea ice hasn’t broken out this summer,” Dr Fleming said.
“The previous voyage attempted to resupply Mawson but we pulled the ship back to Hobart to reconfigure the cargo and the station fuel for a fly-off resupply.”
The resupply has been under way for 10 days and, so far, the weather has been unusually kind.
“We were concerned about the weather but the weather gods have shone on this voyage,” Dr Fleming said.
“Generally at this time of year, you’ll get one day of flying in four but over the last 10 days we’ve achieved seven days of flying.”
In addition to the cargo, the 21 station personnel were *keenly looking forward to their return home, which has been delayed by a month because of the *resupply problems.
Most have been away for more than a year.
A crew working on one of the resupply choppers. Picture: Brett Free
Source: News Corp Australia
Dr Fleming paid tribute to the flexibility and ability of Australia’s Antarctic expeditioners, who have been tested this summer – particularly by delays caused by the rescue operation to free the Akademik Shokalsiky, which *became trapped in sea ice at Christmas.
“This has been a very, colourful season,” he said. “We have a fantastic group of *expeditioners .
“It’s a very difficult environment to work in and we have to be flexible.”