French Squirrel missing in Antarctica
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French Squirrel missing in Antarctica
Reports just in of a French owned and operated Squirrel missing with 4 persons on board: operating from L'Astrolabe 140nm to Dumont D'Urville. The second Squirrel is grounded due to weather, no contact yet with the missing aircraft except from the tracking signal 
Thread Starter
One report I have was via AMSA which has a 406 beacon signal, the other report is that Spidertracks was tracking the helicopter. Apparently L'Astrolabe has a machinery problem and is stuck in the ice, another icebreaker has been called and an air search is being organised.
That's all I know at the moment
That's all I know at the moment
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John,
Are they operating as far as 140nm from the ship? That sounds odd (unless it's an AS355).
Do you know what they're doing there so late in the season or, for that matter, which ice breaker that has responded?
/per
Are they operating as far as 140nm from the ship? That sounds odd (unless it's an AS355).
Do you know what they're doing there so late in the season or, for that matter, which ice breaker that has responded?
/per
Thread Starter
A HELICOPTER carrying four people working with a French research station has disappeared in bad weather in Antarctica after sending a distress beacon, French authorities say.
It had taken off from a ship, the Astrolabe, which works out of Hobart helping to resupply the Dumont d'Urville station and rotate its staff through Australia.
The missing helicopter was carrying the pilot, a mechanic and two staff from the French Polar Institute Paul-Emile Victor. The beacon was sent from an ice field about 60 nautical miles from the Dumont-d'Urville station in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, the territory's administration said.
Deteriorating weather forced back a second helicopter sent to the area to search for the missing chopper and its passengers, but the operation would resume in the daylight, depending on the conditions, it said.
"Taking into account that radio contact cannot be established because of the bad weather and the reach of the radio frequency (VHF) being limited to the ground, there is no news about the four people on board," the statement said.
The ship is situated off the edge of the ice field, about 370 kilometres from Australia, and the distress beacon was about 150 nautical miles from the vessel, the statement said.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority was notified shortly after 9pm (AEDT) on Thursday, and has been co-ordinating the search efforts since.
AMSA spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said a RAAF jet would be sent to the area to look for the crew this evening, after a fruitless effort by a US Air Force jet this morning.
"That aircraft was overhead for about an hour," Ms Jiggins told AAP.
"They were unable to make any communication with the helicopter."
Australia's Antarctic research vessel the Aurora Australis has been diverted but is still at least four days away, while the Astrolabe is ice-locked, Ms Jiggins said.
Weather conditions are hampering a search made already difficult because of the remote location, she said.
"There's no possibility of any helicopters flying today, so our primary aim is to establish communications with the helicopter," Ms Jiggins said.
"We want to find out what sort of condition they're in and if they're okay.
"The last radar tracking of the helicopter had it flying low and slow, so we're hopeful that means the weather was just coming in they just landed because they couldn't see.
"But until we can establish communications with them, we just don't know."
It had taken off from a ship, the Astrolabe, which works out of Hobart helping to resupply the Dumont d'Urville station and rotate its staff through Australia.
The missing helicopter was carrying the pilot, a mechanic and two staff from the French Polar Institute Paul-Emile Victor. The beacon was sent from an ice field about 60 nautical miles from the Dumont-d'Urville station in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, the territory's administration said.
Deteriorating weather forced back a second helicopter sent to the area to search for the missing chopper and its passengers, but the operation would resume in the daylight, depending on the conditions, it said.
"Taking into account that radio contact cannot be established because of the bad weather and the reach of the radio frequency (VHF) being limited to the ground, there is no news about the four people on board," the statement said.
The ship is situated off the edge of the ice field, about 370 kilometres from Australia, and the distress beacon was about 150 nautical miles from the vessel, the statement said.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority was notified shortly after 9pm (AEDT) on Thursday, and has been co-ordinating the search efforts since.
AMSA spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said a RAAF jet would be sent to the area to look for the crew this evening, after a fruitless effort by a US Air Force jet this morning.
"That aircraft was overhead for about an hour," Ms Jiggins told AAP.
"They were unable to make any communication with the helicopter."
Australia's Antarctic research vessel the Aurora Australis has been diverted but is still at least four days away, while the Astrolabe is ice-locked, Ms Jiggins said.
Weather conditions are hampering a search made already difficult because of the remote location, she said.
"There's no possibility of any helicopters flying today, so our primary aim is to establish communications with the helicopter," Ms Jiggins said.
"We want to find out what sort of condition they're in and if they're okay.
"The last radar tracking of the helicopter had it flying low and slow, so we're hopeful that means the weather was just coming in they just landed because they couldn't see.
"But until we can establish communications with them, we just don't know."
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John,
I know it's not your fault, but Antarctica is a little further than 370 Kilometres from Australia, otherwise every man and his kangaroos would be there.
Also would have thought that you would be upto play with who has the contract and what machines, they are not AS350B2's,
kinda wouldn't be jumping to conclusions at the mo, everyone is trying their hardest to find out if they are ok, or what has happened, there is an orion over them at the mo, so just wait an see until jumping in hook line and sinker!!
hopefully they are ok, and thoughts go out to ALL PEOPLE involved!!!!
I know it's not your fault, but Antarctica is a little further than 370 Kilometres from Australia, otherwise every man and his kangaroos would be there.
Also would have thought that you would be upto play with who has the contract and what machines, they are not AS350B2's,
kinda wouldn't be jumping to conclusions at the mo, everyone is trying their hardest to find out if they are ok, or what has happened, there is an orion over them at the mo, so just wait an see until jumping in hook line and sinker!!
hopefully they are ok, and thoughts go out to ALL PEOPLE involved!!!!
Chief Bottle Washer
From the BBC News: Bodies found in Antarctica French helicopter crash
Bodies found in Antarctica French helicopter crash
An Australian plane searching for survivors of a French helicopter crash in Antarctica has spotted three bodies, French officials say.
The fate of the fourth person on board the helicopter was not known.
It had crashed in poor weather carrying a pilot, mechanic and two staff from a French polar research station.
A distress beacon was activated late on Thursday, triggering the search, about 100km (62 miles) from France's Dumont-d'Urville research base.
The AS350 Squirrel helicopter had taken off from the supply ship L'Astrolabe, about 370km north-east of the research station.
Another helicopter at the base could not join the search because of poor visibility in the area, said French officials.
The officials said the Australian searchers saw a wide debris field from the crash.
"The teams report seeing debris scattered over 150m (164 yards), which indicates a strong impact with the ground," said a statement from the French authority that administers the country's southern overseas territories.
The Australian search plane dropped survival equipment at the crash site.
Before the three bodies were spotted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said there were "no signs that anyone has survived the impact of the crash".
An Australian plane searching for survivors of a French helicopter crash in Antarctica has spotted three bodies, French officials say.
The fate of the fourth person on board the helicopter was not known.
It had crashed in poor weather carrying a pilot, mechanic and two staff from a French polar research station.
A distress beacon was activated late on Thursday, triggering the search, about 100km (62 miles) from France's Dumont-d'Urville research base.
The AS350 Squirrel helicopter had taken off from the supply ship L'Astrolabe, about 370km north-east of the research station.
Another helicopter at the base could not join the search because of poor visibility in the area, said French officials.
The officials said the Australian searchers saw a wide debris field from the crash.
"The teams report seeing debris scattered over 150m (164 yards), which indicates a strong impact with the ground," said a statement from the French authority that administers the country's southern overseas territories.
The Australian search plane dropped survival equipment at the crash site.
Before the three bodies were spotted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said there were "no signs that anyone has survived the impact of the crash".
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Quote: "You will excuse my ignorance of Antartic operations but .. it doesn't require aircraft to fly in pairs?
EoR"
It does seem sensible to operate in pairs, here are some considerations;
If operating from a vessel with a single heli deck (two hangars) then one heli would need to launch and loiter until the second one is ranged and launced, this would require a lot of fuel and time. The process would have to be reversed for the recovery - thus not always practical.
There is a question about sending two helis into bad weather as a pair, when do they loose sight of each other? if the one crashes due to Wx the other is surely also at peril?
There may only be room for one heli on the vessel.
EoR"
It does seem sensible to operate in pairs, here are some considerations;
If operating from a vessel with a single heli deck (two hangars) then one heli would need to launch and loiter until the second one is ranged and launced, this would require a lot of fuel and time. The process would have to be reversed for the recovery - thus not always practical.
There is a question about sending two helis into bad weather as a pair, when do they loose sight of each other? if the one crashes due to Wx the other is surely also at peril?
There may only be room for one heli on the vessel.
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I don't know about the French boys but in the Oz contract we always flew 2 aircraft & with half loads, so you could pick up the crew from the other one if it went down. If the weather was that bad, we didn't fly.
EOR............it's AntarCtica!
EOR............it's AntarCtica!
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SM - 'accountability' is fine in the north sea...
... but down there you need reliability and performance. B2's and B3's are ideal.
... and where there are no electronic means for re-establishing viual cues - the best thing is to not loose them - big windows are best for that.
... It is the harshest environment anywhere - prolly ... no room for 'theory' there.
... and where there are no electronic means for re-establishing viual cues - the best thing is to not loose them - big windows are best for that.
... It is the harshest environment anywhere - prolly ... no room for 'theory' there.
I dunno... Winter op's up here in the Arctic = -35 deg plus, stupidly strong winds and 24hr darkness. Pretty harsh.
If you are going to fly around in poor weather, learn to use instruments to get yourself out of the **** and never lose your back door.
If you are going to fly around in poor weather, learn to use instruments to get yourself out of the **** and never lose your back door.
Thread Starter
The Antarctic is currently out of winter: it is 'spring', and the usual time of the year for the first re-supply mission after winter. There are currently some 18 hours of daylight every day. Yes, there are strong winds and yes, there are low temperatures and yes, the conditions can change very quickly.
I can't speak for the French operator's procedures, but since this is the same mission that I was on last year there appears nothing unusual about the season, nor the use of AS350 Squirrel helicopters. Shell Management is a wind up merchant of the first degree, and has little or no credence on Rotorheads: AS350's have been used for many years and are ideal for the purpose to which they are put.
Local news reports that the Doctor from DDU has been flown to the site, and all four on board are confirmed dead: a sad end to the first mission of the season
I can't speak for the French operator's procedures, but since this is the same mission that I was on last year there appears nothing unusual about the season, nor the use of AS350 Squirrel helicopters. Shell Management is a wind up merchant of the first degree, and has little or no credence on Rotorheads: AS350's have been used for many years and are ideal for the purpose to which they are put.
Local news reports that the Doctor from DDU has been flown to the site, and all four on board are confirmed dead: a sad end to the first mission of the season
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For those involved these are going to be hard times. from a pilot that has done 2 resupply missions with the Astrolab to DDU, I have had a few moments with the rapidly changing weather in the Antarctic, and understand that even with 2 helicopters It is a hostile place to fly with No room for Error. My thoughts go to the Crew and team from the L'Astrolabe and the Polar institute.
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Winter ops in the Arctic -35 deg or less, stupidly strong winds and 24hr darkness. Pretty harsh. If you are going to fly around in poor weather, learn to use instruments to get yourself out of the **** and never lose your back door.
Sometimes (a lot of the time) people don't realize the work which goes on all year around in the arctic circle areas from Russia, across Scandinavia, Greenland, Canada and Alaska. The conditions are also extreme but most of the work goes on without any notice.Still, we are very sad
about the French Squirrel. Does anyone know what on-board survival kit is placed in the Squirrels used in Antarctica for example if you have a techincal problem and have to land and wait?YBB