Calgary crews arrive in Antarctica
Posted Jun 20, 2016 5:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two Calgary flight crews have touched down in Antarctica and have begun to outfit their planes, as they await word on when they can carry on to evacuate a researcher.
Word of their arrival came earlier Monday; they’re now waiting for a window to open up offering more favourable weather.
The frozen continent poses a number of dangers this time of year, because it’s extremely cold and the 10 hour flight will be very dark.
One plane will carry onto the pole, while the second stays at Rothera Research Station for search and rescue capabilities.
National Science Foundation spokesperson Peter West said this is a rare flight and one that requires many precautions.
“In fact, there have only been two flights like this previously,” he explained. “One was in 2001 and one was in 2003. They were slightly earlier in the winter down there, so it is unusual.”
Kenn Borek crews spent the day resting and fitting their planes with skis.
