British Antarctic Survey
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British Antarctic Survey
Just wondering if there are any ex-BAS pilots out there? I've done a bit of work in harsh environments in previous life and would love to fly out there one day. Minimums 2500hrs and I guess a lot of twin time/IFR preferred. Where do they tend to take pilots from? Ex mil preferred or do FI's and GA pilots get a look?
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Was a while ago that I applied so things may have changed but back then turbine time was a definite plus.. especially Twotter time. I was rejected due to age at 40 which I thought a trifle harsh as I was a damn sight fitter at 40 than some guys I knew 15 yrs younger. As always if you know someone there it helps enormously. I knew someone who'd flown three season with them.. it IS a very harsh environment (so whingers are not welcome) requiring the skills to adapt to a very specialist type of flying in order to remain safe. Not for everyone.
Last edited by MungoP; 14th Feb 2015 at 06:20. Reason: sp
As an example, back in 2000 I spent some time in the Falklands. One day I was in Stanley, when I noticed the BAS Dash 7 making an approach to Stanley Airfield.
Thought I'd go for a look and was invited aboard by some very friendly gents. "Where have you come from today?" I asked. "From here, 5 hours ago!" came the response.
It seems they had set off for Rothera, flown south for 3 hours, and due to encountering stronger than forecast headwinds, had to turn back as they weren't going to make destination.
Thought I'd go for a look and was invited aboard by some very friendly gents. "Where have you come from today?" I asked. "From here, 5 hours ago!" came the response.
It seems they had set off for Rothera, flown south for 3 hours, and due to encountering stronger than forecast headwinds, had to turn back as they weren't going to make destination.
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BAS pilots are deliberately chosen from varying backgrounds, but recruitment is sporadic as there are only 8 pilots within the air unit. No news when they will be recruiting at the moment. Are you inquiring after having seen the Air International article?
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I didn't do survey work, but I flew a season (1995) for the National Science Foundation out of Christchurch, NZ down to McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
It is quite a trip to land a C-141B Starlifter on the ice runway after flying for about 7 hours into relatively unknown weather. You must have 3000/3 at 3 hours out or you are supposed to turn around at the PSR.
Of course, the McMurdo guys fudge the 3 hour weather reports and about half the time, the weather was almost down to PAR mins on arrival as there was no ILS.
We rotated about 140 very happy to get the hell out of there personnel back to the world on every trip. The C-5s carried all the heavy stuff, we mostly took the pax.
South NZ was very fun to spend any length of time. Great beer, great people.
It is quite a trip to land a C-141B Starlifter on the ice runway after flying for about 7 hours into relatively unknown weather. You must have 3000/3 at 3 hours out or you are supposed to turn around at the PSR.
Of course, the McMurdo guys fudge the 3 hour weather reports and about half the time, the weather was almost down to PAR mins on arrival as there was no ILS.
We rotated about 140 very happy to get the hell out of there personnel back to the world on every trip. The C-5s carried all the heavy stuff, we mostly took the pax.
South NZ was very fun to spend any length of time. Great beer, great people.
