Plans For Winter Antarctic Flights

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31277, 25 January 1967, Page 8

Plans For Winter Antarctic Flights

The two mid-winter flights to the Antarctic by skiequipped Hercules of the United States Navy VX6 Squadron have been tentatively scheduled for June 16 and August 25. A small number of scientists taking part in the United States Antarctic research programme will be on both flights.

Commander P. Allison, United States Navy air operations officer with the Antarctic Support Force, said yesterday the dates were flexible. At best each mission might take two to three days, or it might take 10 days, depending on the weather at

McMurdo Sound and en route. As far as he was aware the scientists who would make the flights had not been selected. Depending on his availability it was possible that the new commander of the United States Navy Antarctic support force (Captain J. L. Abbot) might take part on one of the flights. The operational pattern for the flights would follow that of previous mid-winter flights to the Antarctic, said Commander Allison. There would be two aircraft for each mission. One Hercules would make the flight to McMurdo Sound while the other would stay at Christchurch for use in a search and rescue role. Commander Allison said there would be no shooting for records. The objective was a safe, efficient operation.

Crews on the two missions would be drawn from men who were accustomed to Antarctic flying during the summer. Commander Allison said he did not expect the ski-way preparation at McMurdo Sound to be any more difficult than it had been for the emergency flights in the past. “Let’s say we are not anticipating any major problem at this stage,” he said. The two aircraft would also carry such emergency equipment as was required, mail and if space permitted freshproduce. It was more than likely on the second flight that a number of support staff would go down to help prepare the way for the opening of the next summer season.