Where a Twotter goes even ...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Approach plate for the south pole from a couple of years ago. It's not well depicted on here but Grid E of the runway is the clean air sector. As you can imagine the south pole has the purest air on the planet, scientist use this area as a benchmark for the rest of the earth. They come down pretty hard on those who violate this airspace so it's in your best interest to make sure you're approaching from the right sector.
Someone may have an older approach plate, I remember the way points were previously named after Amundsen, Scott, and Shackleton. Too bad they made the change.
I'm glad to hear that they will have some rest once arriving at the station. I was under the impression that they would be turning right around weather permitting. That being said, "rest" at the Pole can be rather erratic. Obviously at the 9,300ft you have the elevation to deal with. But being at the Pole you're under an area of constant low pressure, which can give you the feeling of being much higher. Lastly, it's extremely dry. Trying to get good sleep with an oxygen generator plugged up your nose is not pleasant. I'm sure you'd get used to it over time but for one or two nights at a time it's tough.
I heard today that they've landed in Rothera and are waiting for a weather window. In the mean time they'll be switching from wheels to board skis. Usually this is accomplished by switching to wheel-skis, flying up to the plateau, and switching to boards on the skiway. But I'm guessing that at this time of year they'll go straight to board skis on the tarmac and blast off the snow packed runway.
I find it fascination too. Had always assumed it was pitch dark for the entire winter. Nice work with your How long does the moon stay above the horizon at the south pole? Calcs.
Edit: I see they have staged down to Rothera successfully
..planes reach British station at Rothera
Edit: I see they have staged down to Rothera successfully
..planes reach British station at Rothera
That the moon is up tonight (and continuously for the next few days) was never in dispute, and no it will not be as pitch black as it will be in two weeks.
However, the author might have taken the time to mention that, even with a full moon near the horizon on the white snow, it's hardly daylight. Yes, you might be able to walk around without walking into something and it may help SA for the circuit / landing. And as you say - and the author again might have cared to mention - any cirrus or lower altostratus, the ever persistent airborne ice crystals, or aircraft induced fog might make the conditions appear pretty dark. The lay person would infer the opposite from the tone of the article.
Those webcams to which you link appear to be long exposure images - notice the flags blurred, the overexposure of the light sources and the stars in the sky. Correctly exposed images under moonlight appear in a photo similar to that of the sun. The blueish tint that occurs to us looking at the full moon for real is because the low light receptors in our eyes favour light at that end of the spectrum. It has some scientific name that escapes me for now.
The irony is that he accuses other media sources with little attention to detail in the header, and omits important ones himself and makes at least one scientific mistake (not about the moon). But back to the subject matter...
Have a safe flight gentlemen.
However, the author might have taken the time to mention that, even with a full moon near the horizon on the white snow, it's hardly daylight. Yes, you might be able to walk around without walking into something and it may help SA for the circuit / landing. And as you say - and the author again might have cared to mention - any cirrus or lower altostratus, the ever persistent airborne ice crystals, or aircraft induced fog might make the conditions appear pretty dark. The lay person would infer the opposite from the tone of the article.
Those webcams to which you link appear to be long exposure images - notice the flags blurred, the overexposure of the light sources and the stars in the sky. Correctly exposed images under moonlight appear in a photo similar to that of the sun. The blueish tint that occurs to us looking at the full moon for real is because the low light receptors in our eyes favour light at that end of the spectrum. It has some scientific name that escapes me for now.
The irony is that he accuses other media sources with little attention to detail in the header, and omits important ones himself and makes at least one scientific mistake (not about the moon). But back to the subject matter...
Have a safe flight gentlemen.
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Maine USA
Age: 82
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The blueish tint that occurs to us looking at the full moon for real is because the low light receptors in our eyes favour light at that end of the spectrum. It has some scientific name that escapes me for now.
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To answer the heated-fuel questions -
There's fuel/oil heaters before the FCU on each engines that bring the fuel temp to a fine temperature. Every Pratt turboprop has them. Boost pumps are tough they have no problem moving cold fuel.
There's fuel/oil heaters before the FCU on each engines that bring the fuel temp to a fine temperature. Every Pratt turboprop has them. Boost pumps are tough they have no problem moving cold fuel.
Boost pumps are tough they have no problem moving cold fuel.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,929
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looks like they're on their way to the pole.Daring Antarctic rescue mission sets off for South Pole : Nature News & Comment
Having been to Union Glacier, Antarctica and met some of the Kenn Borek folks, I have the utmost respect for them. Hope the mission is successful. Will be watching how it goes.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Yet again the phrase "wooden ships and iron men" comes to mind. I've only 500 hours on the Twotter, many years ago, but I'm convinced it's the aircraft for the job. Kudos to the crew though: I wouldn't fancy it, let alone be able to do it.
Resident insomniac
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: N54 58 34 W02 01 21
Age: 79
Posts: 1,873
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
A Twin Otter plane operated by Kenn Borek Air took off for the National Science Foundation's Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station on Tuesday, officials said.
They are expected to land at about 3 p.m. MT.
They are expected to land at about 3 p.m. MT.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,852
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They touched down Tuesday afternoon: Kenn Borek Air rescue flight lands at South Pole station - Calgary - CBC News
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Vermont, USA
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Been looking over the British Antarctic Survey web site and noticed a "blind landing area" depicted on page 3 of the info on the Halley 6 skiway: https://www.bas.ac.uk/wp-content/upl...l1_halley6.pdf
Wondered if anyone could explain its purpose..................I assume its self explanatory but don't know for sure.
Wondered if anyone could explain its purpose..................I assume its self explanatory but don't know for sure.
Is MT North American Mountain Time?
It takes balls of brass to knowingly fly in that environment.
They should be taking off in the next hours. They have been on the ice for their 10 hour rest period, so when conditions are good enough they might go for it.
On the webcam images there is some activity going on, I can't make out what exactly.
Live webcam feed can be found here:
The USAP Portal: Science and Support in Antarctica - South Pole Station Webcams
Press releases from Kenn Borek can be found here:
NEWSROOM
Twitter feed with pictures of the plane on the ground/ice:
https://twitter.com/NSF_OPP/status/7...rc=twsrc%5Etfw
On the webcam images there is some activity going on, I can't make out what exactly.
Live webcam feed can be found here:
The USAP Portal: Science and Support in Antarctica - South Pole Station Webcams
Press releases from Kenn Borek can be found here:
NEWSROOM
Twitter feed with pictures of the plane on the ground/ice:
https://twitter.com/NSF_OPP/status/7...rc=twsrc%5Etfw
blind landing areas
Dcorp, they are for landing ski equipped aircraft in conditions that are not suitable for the skiway (which have flags and other markets).
Besides the obvious blizzard, this might be due to BLSN that obscures the ground with blue sky above. The depth depends on the wind strength and temperature and type of snow.
It's basically setting up a straight shallow nose up approach with a low descent rate and chopping the power when you feel a bump. The rad alt is not accurate enough for flaring due to variations in snow reflectivity. Good 'fun'.
Besides the obvious blizzard, this might be due to BLSN that obscures the ground with blue sky above. The depth depends on the wind strength and temperature and type of snow.
It's basically setting up a straight shallow nose up approach with a low descent rate and chopping the power when you feel a bump. The rad alt is not accurate enough for flaring due to variations in snow reflectivity. Good 'fun'.
A plane has landed at the South Pole after a nine-hour journey over the icy continent to evacuate a sick worker from a remote science station.
The aircraft set out from Rothera - a British base on the Antarctic peninsula - according to the National Science Foundation , which runs the American outpost.
The pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer and medical worker will rest for at least 10 hours before refuelling and making the marathon 1,500-mile journey back to Rothera, said NSF spokesman Peter West.
The worker - whose medical condition has not been disclosed - will then be flown out of Antarctica for treatment.
"It went all according to plan," said Mr West.
A second worker is also ill, but officials have yet to decide whether that patient will also fly out, he added.
Daring Antarctic Rescue Mission At South Pole
The aircraft set out from Rothera - a British base on the Antarctic peninsula - according to the National Science Foundation , which runs the American outpost.
The pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer and medical worker will rest for at least 10 hours before refuelling and making the marathon 1,500-mile journey back to Rothera, said NSF spokesman Peter West.
The worker - whose medical condition has not been disclosed - will then be flown out of Antarctica for treatment.
"It went all according to plan," said Mr West.
A second worker is also ill, but officials have yet to decide whether that patient will also fly out, he added.
Daring Antarctic Rescue Mission At South Pole