Upside down from the rest of the world, separated by ice, wind and ocean, the frozen continent’s is cut off from the world around it, leaving its human occupants separated from their home countries for long stretches of time. Up until now, supply runs have been limited to the sun’s availability; but with a flight just completed with night vision goggles, the scientists may be receiving year round care.
Air Force Lt. Col. Jim McGann said the airplane’s own lights — reflecting off of traffic cones — allowed it to land without electrical runway lights that are too hard to maintain in the frozen environment.
McGann told New Zealand’s national radio that the breakthrough flight could mean year-round supply flights for U.S. and New Zealand science bases on the ice.
Traditionally, the onset of the southern hemisphere winter in Antarctica ends flights to the frozen continent for six months as the sun sinks below the horizon.
“At the moment, we make that last trip in February and then don’t come back until August,” McGann said. “If we can go in and out a couple of times a month, we can go and get people out or drop more people off.”
“I think the most significant advantage is medical evacuation,” he said.
Tags: New Zealand | 2008 | United States | World | Antarctica | Air Force | September | Penguins | night vision | jason sanders