Australian Antarctic aircraft stranded for 3 days
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Australian Antarctic aircraft stranded for 3 days
I am surprised this one hasn't been reported here... espec as there is a strong chance one of those stranded in a PPRuNer of some renown... 
Stranded Aussies aim for home base
From: AAP
January 16, 2006
THREE Australians stranded for nine days on a remote Antarctic ice shelf are hoping to return to their base today.
The two male pilots and a female air support worker, from Australia's Davis Station, were sent to the Amery Ice Shelf on January 5 to retrieve equipment from a US weather balloon.
The trio became stranded about 740km from Davis when their CASA 212 aircraft could not take off.
Bad weather hampered efforts to reach the group last week but engineers reached the site on Friday.
The group arrived at Beaver Lake, about halfway to Davis station, yesterday.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Antarctic Division said today the crews were expected to fly out around lunchtime (AEDT) and arrive in Davis this afternoon.
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"The weather was okay for them to come yesterday but they were just tired," she said.
The trio was well equipped throughout the ordeal and had set up camp with tents and heaters until help arrived.
Stranded Aussies aim for home base
From: AAP
January 16, 2006
THREE Australians stranded for nine days on a remote Antarctic ice shelf are hoping to return to their base today.
The two male pilots and a female air support worker, from Australia's Davis Station, were sent to the Amery Ice Shelf on January 5 to retrieve equipment from a US weather balloon.
The trio became stranded about 740km from Davis when their CASA 212 aircraft could not take off.
Bad weather hampered efforts to reach the group last week but engineers reached the site on Friday.
The group arrived at Beaver Lake, about halfway to Davis station, yesterday.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Antarctic Division said today the crews were expected to fly out around lunchtime (AEDT) and arrive in Davis this afternoon.
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"The weather was okay for them to come yesterday but they were just tired," she said.
The trio was well equipped throughout the ordeal and had set up camp with tents and heaters until help arrived.
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Re: Australian Antarctic aircraft stranded for 3 days
Horatio Leafblower
It's been on my mind since it was first reported, odds on it will be or I'm sure we would have heard about it.
An all expenses paid holiday at Beaver Lake in Sunny Antartica sounds like a fun gig to me.
Been keeping close tabs on them just never got around to posting.
Very professional outfit with very professional crews.
It's been on my mind since it was first reported, odds on it will be or I'm sure we would have heard about it.
An all expenses paid holiday at Beaver Lake in Sunny Antartica sounds like a fun gig to me.
Been keeping close tabs on them just never got around to posting.
Very professional outfit with very professional crews.
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Re: Australian Antarctic aircraft stranded for 3 days
You can bet if HE was one of those stuck down there he'll have a good excuse for not telling us all about it.
Something like no internet or some other truely believable story.
tipsy
Something like no internet or some other truely believable story.
tipsy
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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Re: Australian Antarctic aircraft stranded for 3 days
Hey guy, I'll be expecting some good pics in my next email.
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Re: Australian Antarctic aircraft stranded for 3 days
Tipsy
It occurred to me that he is just the sortof guy that would get into that sort of situation!
Hypothermia is a killer you know....
It occurred to me that he is just the sortof guy that would get into that sort of situation!
Hypothermia is a killer you know....
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Re: Australian Antarctic aircraft stranded for 3 days
they couldn't take off because they "stuffed" an under cart ski. Engineers went in via 2 x squirrells. CASA's might be to soft for the job perhaps twotters would be a more robust alternative...Hmm
Not me! I sunned it up at Club Beaver 
for a week 190nm from the action.
RH ski dumped its hydraulics on takeoff causing it to retract. The drag of the wheel in the snow was then too much to allow take off at 8800' elevation. A pretty simple situation really. Once everything was ready, mother nature intervened for a week - par for the course down here. Somehow the media got hold of it and beat it up bigger than ben hur - judging by the number of emails in my inbox!
Most ski failures on Twin Otters and C130s (they have them too) have happened on takeoff. It is an occupational hazard down here. With Vr of 95kts, work out the TAS for the 8800' elevation
and you start to realise how tough it is down here on gear taking off over rough rock hard irregular sastrugi. They cop a flogging.
for a week 190nm from the action.RH ski dumped its hydraulics on takeoff causing it to retract. The drag of the wheel in the snow was then too much to allow take off at 8800' elevation. A pretty simple situation really. Once everything was ready, mother nature intervened for a week - par for the course down here. Somehow the media got hold of it and beat it up bigger than ben hur - judging by the number of emails in my inbox!
Most ski failures on Twin Otters and C130s (they have them too) have happened on takeoff. It is an occupational hazard down here. With Vr of 95kts, work out the TAS for the 8800' elevation
and you start to realise how tough it is down here on gear taking off over rough rock hard irregular sastrugi. They cop a flogging.
Last edited by compressor stall; 17th Jan 2006 at 17:37.
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Hey stallie how is jls by the way, heard through the grapevine that he was camping out with a busted aircraft!! Sure beats getting stuck on the ground at say...Warmun or Tjuntjunjarra for a couple of days, bit cooler too! I reckon with experiences like that he won't be in a hurry to get back to the RUFDUS slog?
Anyway say g'day to him for me, probaly after he's finished dancing on the table...!!??
cheers Pee Three
Anyway say g'day to him for me, probaly after he's finished dancing on the table...!!??
cheers Pee Three
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NNB,
Having flown both types in the early 80's I can assure you there is nothing soft about a 212. They are built like the proverbial! I'd back one in against a twotter any day for strength. They do however do very different jobs although you can do most things with a CASA that you would do with a twotter but not the other way around.
CS, how are they going down there? Always will have a soft spot for one even if they made me deaf. Is your chief pilot down south?
I understand the women get 5 bonus point just stepping ashore!
Having flown both types in the early 80's I can assure you there is nothing soft about a 212. They are built like the proverbial! I'd back one in against a twotter any day for strength. They do however do very different jobs although you can do most things with a CASA that you would do with a twotter but not the other way around.
CS, how are they going down there? Always will have a soft spot for one even if they made me deaf. Is your chief pilot down south?
I understand the women get 5 bonus point just stepping ashore!
Hi Voice
Still lurking around.... How's things with you in your not so new any longer part of the world?
Pee Three JLS says hi back! I might see you over there midyear for a month or two, who knows....?
CS
Still lurking around.... How's things with you in your not so new any longer part of the world?
Pee Three JLS says hi back! I might see you over there midyear for a month or two, who knows....?
CS
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Now stallie your cousins in northern climes are dying to hear about the day to day in the life of an Antarctic pilot, even piccies if you have the time and bandwidth.
It'll keep us cool in the 40C days and green with envy in our day jobs, a public service you see
Seriously, only if you have the time and equipment.
Woomera
It'll keep us cool in the 40C days and green with envy in our day jobs, a public service you see
Seriously, only if you have the time and equipment.
Woomera
Happy Australia Day!
TAF DAVIS 260200Z 0314 04022G32KT 9999 -SN FEW015 FEW060 OVC090
FM12 05030KT 9999 -SN FEW010 SCT020 BKN060
INTER 1214 2000 SN FEW008 BKN010
FM03 MOD TURB BLW 3000FT
T 01 02 01 00 Q 982 982 982 983
REMARKS: HORIZON AND SURFACE DEFN FAIR, TENDING POOR IN SNOW
Beach cricket cancelled and moved indoors. Forecast to get worse on Saturday.....
As for life and flying, down here, there was a five page spread in last July's Australian Aviation. The scenery and the scale of this place is incredible and it is a real privilege to see this part of the world. Having seen the scale and emptiness of this place, you realise that the GAFA back home isn't all that big after all.
Summer's over now, and things are cooling off noticibly and the weather is turning - the first blizz of the year will hit here on Saturday. The sun set for the first time 10 days ago, although not long enough to be proper dark. That's next month!
FM12 05030KT 9999 -SN FEW010 SCT020 BKN060
INTER 1214 2000 SN FEW008 BKN010
FM03 MOD TURB BLW 3000FT
T 01 02 01 00 Q 982 982 982 983
REMARKS: HORIZON AND SURFACE DEFN FAIR, TENDING POOR IN SNOW
Beach cricket cancelled and moved indoors. Forecast to get worse on Saturday.....
As for life and flying, down here, there was a five page spread in last July's Australian Aviation. The scenery and the scale of this place is incredible and it is a real privilege to see this part of the world. Having seen the scale and emptiness of this place, you realise that the GAFA back home isn't all that big after all.
Summer's over now, and things are cooling off noticibly and the weather is turning - the first blizz of the year will hit here on Saturday. The sun set for the first time 10 days ago, although not long enough to be proper dark. That's next month!
Last edited by compressor stall; 26th Jan 2006 at 08:56.