Flight Lieutenant Gemma Day knew all about the hard work involved when she flew as far south as possible for her latest deployment.
It didn’t dull the awe the Royal New Zealand Air Force officer felt however when she stepped off the aircraft in Antarctica.
“It was brilliant sunshine, Mt Erebus was steaming in the background, and it was nowhere near as cold as I expected. It was a moment I could never forget.”
The air movements officer is a member of the New Zealand Defence Force team working in Antarctica since October in support of Antarctica New Zealand and the United States Antarctic Programme.
It’s been a hectic five months for the team of 26 tri-service personnel who are split between McMurdo Station, where aircraft are loaded and unloaded, and Scott Base, which is managed by Antarctica New Zealand in support of scientific research in Antarctica and the southern ocean, including Ross Sea.
Flight Lieutenant Day manages a 12-strong team of cargo handlers who work 10-hour days, six days a week, ensuring the mainly scientific staff have what they need to operate.
“When the (RNZAF) C130 Hercules were flying in and out in the early days of the mission it was very busy down here, but as the season progressed things eased up a little. My role centred on advising what our C130 Hercules aircraft could and couldn’t take. My two teams of handlers built the pallets and loaded them, and unloaded all the incoming freight. It’s quite hard work, but everyone seems to enjoy it.”
Just over the hill, about five kilometres away, four NZDF personnel work from Scott Base where RNZAF Squadron Leader John Cassidy is Base Services Manager. His team looks after cargo handling there, as well as stores, administration and communications.
McMurdo Station, with its spread out buildings and bustle of people, is not dissimilar to a mining town - complete with bowling alley - and is the centre of much Antarctic activity. It includes laboratories and logistics bases, and in summer houses up to 1000 people.
Scott Base, which is smaller and accommodates about 80 people in an austral summer has a distinctly Kiwi atmosphere. “After the level of activity at McMurdo it’s great going over there. It’s like walking into someone’s lounge,” says Flight Lieutenant Day.
The scientists supported by Defence Force personnel work from various field locations, with some using McMurdo as a base and returning each evening, and others staying out for up to several weeks.
The research supported by Antarctica New Zealand focuses on climate change, marine biodiversity (understanding marine communities and how species interrelate) and global ecosystems (understanding how life reacts and responds to environmental change).
While science “didn’t appeal much” at college, it has taken on a whole new meaning since she has been in the Antarctic, says Flight Lieutenant Day.
“Every week we have an evening - I suppose you’d call it Science For Dummies – when one of the scientists will give a lecture on their work. It’s fascinating hearing what they do and why, and how it will ultimately benefit society or the environment. Seals used to be just the slow, fat animals out there. Now that I know all about them , I have a different view altogether.”
Petty Officer Derryn Cooper is usually more at home ship-bound and working on electronic systems than building pallets at the end of the earth.
The Royal New Zealand Navy electronics technician has spent summer on the ice, working in one of the freight handling teams, moving cargo around.
“They’re busy days and this is something completely different to what I normally do. But I’ve always wanted to see what was down here, and I wasn’t disappointed.
In his off-duty hours he snow boards down the slopes just minutes from where he lives, and goes for walks in the snow in designated areas.
New Zealand Army communicator Corporal Sarah Cameron, a long with other radio operators, helped maintain the vital communication links needed during her time on the ice. The defence communicators relay messages everywhere, especially in the field, and they, too, work 12-hour shifts.
The gloss of the pristine, picturesque environment dulls a little as newcomers grapple with the reality of no darkness, and sleeping each “night” with daylight outside. “That’s probably the hardest bit,” says Flight Lieutenant Day. “They are long days so you need sleep. Like most things though, you get used to it.”
Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Lou Sanson says some of the most exciting science projects for some time are about to, or have just started, in Antarctica, including sedimentary drilling to 2000 metres to unlock some of the secrets of climate change held by the Antarctic ice sheet.
He says Antarctica New Zealand wouldn’t be able to be on the ice without NZDF support. “The NZDF is the one organisation that has been down here continuously for nearly 50 years. Its logistical help is critical to what we do as we try to cram everything in between October and February each year. We’re hugely appreciative.”
Sidebar:
It’s not often pilots confess to nerves, but Squadron Leader Andy Neilson admits the butterflies were beating when he piloted the RNZAF’s first P3 Orion flight to the Antarctica last month.
The six hour trial flight from Christchurch to Pegasus Airfield had 13 crew on board, and had been planned for some time. It was the first time the aircraft had operated from an ice runway, and the trial was to see whether it was feasible to fly the Orions to and from Antarctica in support of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources(CCAMLR).
Squadron Leader Neilson, who has been flying P3 Orions since 1998, says he and his co-pilot flew several approaches in Antarctica to familiarise themselves with the area.
“I did have butterflies in my stomach, but we had done so much pre-planning, and had extensive information from Canada and America about flying in these conditions. Antarctica is different because you land on ice not snow, but there are similarities.”
The weight of the aircraft was one issue – it leaves a very heavy footprint in the ice. Another was the environmental effect - tail pipe emissions -such a low winged aircraft may have.
The aircraft, which have flown in the Deep South for many years, but not landed until now, routinely include an antifreeze material in their fuel. The only other special equipment taken, apart from cold weather clothing, was a set of special snow chains and wheel covers.
The trail will be evaluated to see if further sorties are worthwhile.
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