AUSTRALIA has broken new ground in
the history of human interaction with Antarctica after successfully air
lifting a sick American expeditioner from an iceshelf runway in minus 35
degrees and at twilight.
A medical retrieval team coordinated by the Hobart-based Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) today arrived home after successfully retrieving the American from a hastily cleared runway of compacted snow at McMurdo station.
AAD's Hobart-based Airbus A319 went to the American's aid after a request by the United States National Science Foundation, successfully airlifting the patient to Christchurch yesterday.
Pilot of the AAD's A319 passenger plane, Garry Studd, said the rescue on Thursday involved what is thought to be the earliest winter landing of such a large wheeled jet aircraft in Antarctica.
Good weather and a two-hour window of twilight allowed the operation to proceed smoothly and after an hour on the iceshelf runway the A319 left for Christchurch, New Zealand, arriving about 7.10pm last night.
"There is risk involved in everything (but) we train for this, plan for it and we're experienced doing it," Captain Studd told reporters on arrival back at Hobart airport a short while ago.
"It was unique in the time of year and we had a very limited time scale in which to do it. However, we had the luxury of being able to always turn around and come back from the ice.
"This is certainly the earliest (winter season ice runway landing in Antarctica) by a routine commercial jet."
The US personnel prepared the runway, about 80 feet above sea level on a 300-foot thick iceshelf, for the landing of the 62.5 tonne plane.
AAD director Tony Fleming said Australia would bear the cost of the rescue, which he described a great example of the spirit of cooperation between Antarctic nations.
Environment Minister Tony Burke praised the AAD's "swift and professional approach in pulling together a specialist medical team", which included four medicos from the Royal Hobart Hospital.
The US National Science Foundation would not release details of the illness or condition of the stricken expeditioner, described by rescuers as "stable" and receiving urgent treatment in Christchurch.
"He was extremely happy," Captain Studd said.
[source: theaustralian ]
A medical retrieval team coordinated by the Hobart-based Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) today arrived home after successfully retrieving the American from a hastily cleared runway of compacted snow at McMurdo station.
AAD's Hobart-based Airbus A319 went to the American's aid after a request by the United States National Science Foundation, successfully airlifting the patient to Christchurch yesterday.
Pilot of the AAD's A319 passenger plane, Garry Studd, said the rescue on Thursday involved what is thought to be the earliest winter landing of such a large wheeled jet aircraft in Antarctica.
Good weather and a two-hour window of twilight allowed the operation to proceed smoothly and after an hour on the iceshelf runway the A319 left for Christchurch, New Zealand, arriving about 7.10pm last night.
"There is risk involved in everything (but) we train for this, plan for it and we're experienced doing it," Captain Studd told reporters on arrival back at Hobart airport a short while ago.
"It was unique in the time of year and we had a very limited time scale in which to do it. However, we had the luxury of being able to always turn around and come back from the ice.
"This is certainly the earliest (winter season ice runway landing in Antarctica) by a routine commercial jet."
The US personnel prepared the runway, about 80 feet above sea level on a 300-foot thick iceshelf, for the landing of the 62.5 tonne plane.
AAD director Tony Fleming said Australia would bear the cost of the rescue, which he described a great example of the spirit of cooperation between Antarctic nations.
Environment Minister Tony Burke praised the AAD's "swift and professional approach in pulling together a specialist medical team", which included four medicos from the Royal Hobart Hospital.
The US National Science Foundation would not release details of the illness or condition of the stricken expeditioner, described by rescuers as "stable" and receiving urgent treatment in Christchurch.
"He was extremely happy," Captain Studd said.
[source: theaustralian ]
No comments:
Post a Comment