Longer season for Australians

Press, 5 November 1979, Page 30

Longer season for Australians

The summer season foi Australians going to the Antarctic has been extended. Six Australian construction workers and three scientists left Christchurch or Friday on a United State: Air Force Starlifter flight. The flight was part of a new co-operative agreemeni between Australia, the United States and New Zealand, said an Australian Antarctic liaison officer (Miss Suzanne Siallman). The Starlifter would take the Australians to McMurdc Sound. From there they would transfer to ski-equip-ped Hercules for the first flight to Casey Station. The ice runway at Casey station had been tested last year by a ski-equipped Hercules aircraft, said Miss Stallman. Until now Australians had usually gone down to the three Antarctic stations — Casey, Davis and Mawson — by ship. Another flight would be made from McMurdc Sound to Casey Station on January 15. The supply ship Nella Dan, chartered from Denmark, was not expected to reach Mawson and Davis stations until early December, said Miss Stallman. The Nella Dan had already resupplied Macquarie Island. Australia’s subAntarctic station. The Thala Dan. also chartered from Denmark, would reach Casey station with the bulk of the supplies for the station in mid-January. The early arrival of the construction workers by air meant that the rebuilding of

Casey station on a site away from the existing statior could begin, and the builders could make the most of the summer said Miss Stallman Mail for the 25 people wht had wintered at the statior had been taken on the Star lifter flight. About 30 people woulc winter at Mawson next year, said Miss Stallman. There would be about 30 at Casey and another 20 people at Davis. Summer personel at the various stations woulc not number much more thar this. Most of those who hac wintered during 1979 woulc return by ships to Melbourne, the base for the Australian Antartic programme, in January. About a third of the Australians in the Antarctic were scientists, said Miss Stallman. The two scientists who left yesterday for Casey station would do glaciology studies. They would remeasure holes drilled in the ice during the 1976-77 season to check for movement. From their measurements they would be able to tell how fast the ice was flowing and in what direction. Scientists based at Davis station would study the biology of the lakes in the Vestfold Hills. Upper atmosphere and meterological studies would continue during the winter. A Royal Australian Air Force Hercules would make four flights to McMurdo Sound from December 2 to S as part of the co-operation agreement, Miss Stallman said.