Antarctic Flight
I don't want to be the best pilot in the world - Just the oldest
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Antarctic Flight
Any chance of it being just a one way ticket? 
Garrett on board historic Antarctic flight
By Paul Mulvey
January 10, 2008 04:23pm
Article from: AAP
FEDERAL Environment Minister Peter Garrett will join scientists on the historic first passenger flight between Australia and Antarctica, due to leave Hobart tonight.
The 3400km flight to the newly-built Wilkins blue ice runway will carry 19 passengers, including seven scientists who will be the first to make use of the shuttle service which will radically improve Australia's research capabilities on the southern ice cap.
"This is a fabulous moment for me,'' Dr Tony Press, director of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), said.
"We're all very excited.''
The air link finally bridges the gap between Australia and Antarctica, eliminating the need for scientists to spend up to two weeks on a ship trawling through the Southern Ocean to get to Casey Station.
The four kilometre-long runway, carved into 500m thick ice, is 65km from Casey where most of the scientists who use the shuttle will be based.
"it means we spend very much less down-time sitting on a ship getting down there,'' AAD chief scientist Michael Stoddart said.
"So we can attract scientists who cannot afford that down-time. Senior scientists will have an opportunity they never had before.
"It will increase the quantity of our research and the quality.''
The first of six successful test flights carrying AAD personnel on the twin-engine A319 Airbus flew last month.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) finally gave the AAD the go ahead on Tuesday to take passengers after its safety concerns were allayed.
CASA needed assurance the plane has sufficient fuel capacity to make the return journey or turn back mid-flight, and is able to complete the trip if one engine fails.
The runway was carved into the ice 20km from the coast by a team of eight AAD staff over the last two summers.
The four hour flights will carry scientists and other personnel working at Australia's Antarctic stations and the runway will not be opened up for tourist flights.
By Paul Mulvey
January 10, 2008 04:23pm
Article from: AAP
FEDERAL Environment Minister Peter Garrett will join scientists on the historic first passenger flight between Australia and Antarctica, due to leave Hobart tonight.
The 3400km flight to the newly-built Wilkins blue ice runway will carry 19 passengers, including seven scientists who will be the first to make use of the shuttle service which will radically improve Australia's research capabilities on the southern ice cap.
"This is a fabulous moment for me,'' Dr Tony Press, director of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), said.
"We're all very excited.''
The air link finally bridges the gap between Australia and Antarctica, eliminating the need for scientists to spend up to two weeks on a ship trawling through the Southern Ocean to get to Casey Station.
The four kilometre-long runway, carved into 500m thick ice, is 65km from Casey where most of the scientists who use the shuttle will be based.
"it means we spend very much less down-time sitting on a ship getting down there,'' AAD chief scientist Michael Stoddart said.
"So we can attract scientists who cannot afford that down-time. Senior scientists will have an opportunity they never had before.
"It will increase the quantity of our research and the quality.''
The first of six successful test flights carrying AAD personnel on the twin-engine A319 Airbus flew last month.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) finally gave the AAD the go ahead on Tuesday to take passengers after its safety concerns were allayed.
CASA needed assurance the plane has sufficient fuel capacity to make the return journey or turn back mid-flight, and is able to complete the trip if one engine fails.
The runway was carved into the ice 20km from the coast by a team of eight AAD staff over the last two summers.
The four hour flights will carry scientists and other personnel working at Australia's Antarctic stations and the runway will not be opened up for tourist flights.
Best of luck for the crew of the A319.
Bit of luck they should be able leave the aging rocker on the ice shelf so that he can learn about global warming.
Looks like CASA (Chaps against Sensible Aviation)delayed the initial flights, I saw Mr Gibson on TV flapping his gums about unresolved safety issues delaying the first flight.
Bit of luck they should be able leave the aging rocker on the ice shelf so that he can learn about global warming.
Looks like CASA (Chaps against Sensible Aviation)delayed the initial flights, I saw Mr Gibson on TV flapping his gums about unresolved safety issues delaying the first flight.
Rumour has it QF is moving its engineering base to Heard Is. 
ABC website says that VH-VHD has made a landing at the Antartic base and has returned to YMHB.
Well done to the flight crew, a nice one to put in the logbook.
Well done to the flight crew, a nice one to put in the logbook.
Folks,
I am surprised, to say the very least, that nobody has mentioned who pioneered this air route from Hobart to the Antarctic, with all its potential, in November 1988 ---- quite a while ago now, almost 20 years.
Gee!!!, We really move fast to grab opportunities in Australia, don't we !!
Tootle pip!!
I am surprised, to say the very least, that nobody has mentioned who pioneered this air route from Hobart to the Antarctic, with all its potential, in November 1988 ---- quite a while ago now, almost 20 years.
Gee!!!, We really move fast to grab opportunities in Australia, don't we !!
Tootle pip!!
I've got this in my RAAF logbook,
5Dec1981 C130H A97-012 NZCH-NZCM(McMurdo Sound) 7.3hrs
over 26 years ago and the squadron I belonged to had been doing Antarctic flights for some years prior to this one. The potential and capability has been there for quite some time.
Regards,
BH.
5Dec1981 C130H A97-012 NZCH-NZCM(McMurdo Sound) 7.3hrs
over 26 years ago and the squadron I belonged to had been doing Antarctic flights for some years prior to this one. The potential and capability has been there for quite some time.
Regards,
BH.
Stationair8,
Herons ??? Now, there's a thought, at least an option on the Heron was a drift sight between the F/O' knees --- as this was all before GPS or any form of inertial in small aircraft -- and no astrodome in a Heron.
No, it wasn't the RAAF, or any Australian airline, try again.
Tootle pip!!
Herons ??? Now, there's a thought, at least an option on the Heron was a drift sight between the F/O' knees --- as this was all before GPS or any form of inertial in small aircraft -- and no astrodome in a Heron.
No, it wasn't the RAAF, or any Australian airline, try again.
Tootle pip!!
Rock 'Star'????
A Rock Star(?) ON I C E ...........
ha ha ha.......ho ho ho......hee hee hee...........
Shudda left 'it' there........... O.K., I know...can't pollute the icepack can we???
ha ha ha.......ho ho ho......hee hee hee...........
Shudda left 'it' there........... O.K., I know...can't pollute the icepack can we???
Top of the class Chimbu. Dick and the late Giles Kershaw were the first to fly from Hobart to Casey direct in a twotter in 17+ hours.
The first actual flight from Australia to Antarctica was a US Herc leaving Avalon in 1961. It had a reather adventurous time ending up nowhere where it was meant to due to a few issues. It finally made an emergency landing at Byrd. On board as pax were Australians Dr Philip Law (then head of ANARE) and David Burke, aviation author.
Getting Hercs (wheel or ski) to Casey is a different kettle of fish than McMurdo though. Geography and weather see to that. Casey is not the sort of place you like going to if you have a PNR.
The first actual flight from Australia to Antarctica was a US Herc leaving Avalon in 1961. It had a reather adventurous time ending up nowhere where it was meant to due to a few issues. It finally made an emergency landing at Byrd. On board as pax were Australians Dr Philip Law (then head of ANARE) and David Burke, aviation author.
Getting Hercs (wheel or ski) to Casey is a different kettle of fish than McMurdo though. Geography and weather see to that. Casey is not the sort of place you like going to if you have a PNR.
Last edited by compressor stall; 11th Jan 2008 at 02:14.
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...................who really pioneered the air route from oz to the bottom of the globe?...........none of what's been mentioned here so far & yes 'Staionair8' Phone a friend b4 "Eddie i've been everywhere" goes to an add break!
...............and the answer is????...........some bloody migtrating bird was the first am sure, we humans only wandered way back then ! I guess it's more of a 'what' than a who !
17 hrs in a Twotter with Dick ???.......sheeeeeeezzzzzzzzz I wonder how many xtal sets they assembled ready for sale on that flight !!!
Must be a stunning view down there at times from the air, white on white ! The mind boggles, brings back some awful memories actually !
CW
...............and the answer is????...........some bloody migtrating bird was the first am sure, we humans only wandered way back then !
I guess it's more of a 'what' than a who !17 hrs in a Twotter with Dick ???.......sheeeeeeezzzzzzzzz I wonder how many xtal sets they assembled ready for sale on that flight !!!
Must be a stunning view down there at times from the air, white on white ! The mind boggles, brings back some awful memories actually !
CW