TEA: Harris- -- 12.11.1999

11 December, 1999

McMurdo Station, Ross Island, Antarctica

Saturday

"Slip sliding away..."

Paul Simon

The ice runway has officially closed for the season. Yesterday and today, crews moved cargo and facilities to Williams Field (aka Willy Field). This 'airport' is located 16 km from McMurdo on the permanent ice shelf. The move to Willy Field is an annual event. Summer temperatures weaken the annual sea ice, making it too dangerous for aircraft to land on the ice runway. The move usually takes place in mid-December. Both the 109th New York Air National Guard and the New Zealand Air Force operate aircraft at the ice runway. Only the Air National Guard will fly from Willy Field. Because Willy Field is snow-covered, only airplanes equipped with skis are able to take-off and land there. The Kiwi C-130's are wheeled aircraft and so cannot land at Willy. A third airfield, Pegasus, will open in January. Pegasus is an ice runway on the permanent Ross Ice Shelf and will accommodate the Kiwi aircraft. It's important to have many planes operating at the end of the summer season. Supplies will be arriving for those who will spend the winter in Antarctica and many scientists and staff will be leaving to spend the winter elsewhere.

We are scheduled to leave late next week. Our flight will be on a ski-equipped Air National Guard C-130 Hercules. We will fly out of Willy Field. I spoke with Lt. Col. Paul Sheppard regarding the training necessary for flying an airplane under these conditions. Pilots serve as co-pilots for 2 to 3 years before they are commissioned to fly the ski-equipped Hercs. It's imperative that they experience as many possible situations before taking over the controls! Landing does not present any parcticular problems. Taking off is another story. The pilots must execute the take-off at slower than normal speeds.

After a hard day's work, we attended a Christmas party at the invitation of the Kiwi Cargo crew. About 70 people gathered around a makeshift parachute Christmas tree. The tree was covered in colorful lights and tinsel. Guests parcticipated in a gift exchange and spent the evening dancing. Our good friends in Kiwi Cargo presented Julie, Maite, and me with official Kiwi Cargo 1999-2000 T-shirts! It was such a nice gesture and we truly felt honored! I had no idea that I would have the opportunity to attend a Christmas party in Antarctica!

ANSWER TO YESTERDAY'S QUESTION: If it is 2:45 p.m. on Saturday in Antarctica it is

8:45 p.m. Friday Eastern Time Zone

7:45 p.m. Friday Central Time Zone

6:45 p.m. Friday Mountain Time Zone

5:45 p.m Friday Pacific Time Zone

4:45 p.m. Friday Alaska Time Zone

3:45 p.m. Friday Hawaii Time Zone

It is 2:45 p.m. Saturday in New Zealand. In Antarctica, we operate in the same time zone as New Zealand.

TODAY'S QUESTION: What is significant about Don Juan Pond in Wright Valley? How does Lake Vanda differ from the other Dry Valley lakes?

Sharon

JUST FOR KIDS!!!!!

The ice runway has officially closed for the season because the ice has become too thin. The new 'airport' is located 16 km from McMurdo on the permanent ice shelf. This ice shelf does not melt.

Only the Air National Guard will fly C-130 Hercules airplanes from Willy Field. Because Willy Field is snow-covered, only airplanes that have skis are able to take-off and land there. The New Zealand C-130's are wheeled aircraft and so cannot land at Willy. A third airfield, Pegasus, will open in January.

We will be leaving late next week. Our flight will be on of the ski-equipped Air National Guard C-130 Hercules. We will fly out of Willy Field.