https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...10001342_o.jpg

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

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.

"Purkinje shift" or "Purkinje effect".

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.

What about bulk fuel heating?

If there is such on the Twotter.

But the best boost pump won't move frozen fuel. You need to make sure the fuel in the tanks stays above the freezing point of the fuel - not trivial when you're talking -60C or lower :eek:

What about other fluids, such as engine oil, grease on moving parts (e.g. control surfaces)? Do they freeze too, if so how to prevent it?

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.

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.

Is MT North American Mountain Time?

They touched down Tuesday afternoon: Kenn Borek Air rescue flight lands at South Pole station - Calgary - CBC News

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.

Probably, although at this time of the year, it should properly be MDT - Mountain Daylight Time (UTC -6)

I think the slogan below sums up their attitude:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psrtzb7ips.png

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

..and this other webcam at the SP observatory appears to show what could be lit a flare path ESRL Global Monitoring Division - South Pole Observatory

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'.

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