Australian rescue flight for Antarctic expeditioner at US's McMurdo station

[lovetravellingoz]

Australia rescues Antarctic expeditioner at US's McMurdo station

Australia's Antarctic Division (AAD) has flown to the rescue of an expeditioner after a request from the US, with a team landing on ice in -30 degrees Celsius conditions.

The AAD received a request from the US Antarctic Program on Friday asking for an "emergency medical evacuation of an expeditioner from a United States base in Antarctica", the division said in a statement.

An AAD medical team, supported by aeromedical and retrieval specialists from the Royal Hobart Hospital and Ambulance Tasmania was despatched in Australia's Antarctic Airbus A319 to McMurdo station in East Antarctica, a distance of about 3,900 kilometres.

"The conditions on the ground were challenging, when the Airbus landed at McMurdo station it was around -30 with wind chill," AAD general manager of Antarctic operations and safety Charlton Clark said.


etc

Australian team flies to rescue of sick man at US Antarctic base

Australia's Antarctic Division flies to the rescue of an expeditioner after a request from the US, with a team landing on ice in -30 degrees Celsius conditions.

www.abc.net.au

 

[albatross710]

I recall reading somewhere else that private expeditions do not receive rescue assistance. I thought maybe the policy had changed but the assistance in this article is clearly for authorised person.

 

[OZDUCK]

I recall reading somewhere else that private expeditions do not receive rescue assistance. I thought maybe the policy had changed but the assistance in this article is clearly for authorised person.

This article might be what you remembered. I don't know if the legislation went any further.

Plan to curb Antarctic expeditions after costly rescue of trapped ship

The Australian government is pushing to rein in private operators in the Antarctic after the multimillion-dollar rescue of a University of NSW expedition that became caught in pack ice.

www.smh.com.au

Here is the U.S position . It seems fairly reasonable - rescue only on humanitarian grounds and with no unacceptable risk to personnel plus retain the right to charge for searching etc.

U.S. Policy on Private Expeditions to Antarctica

Outlines the U.S. government's policy regarding support or other services to private expeditions, U.S. or foreign, in Antarctica.

www.nsf.gov

(And I think that is a lovely photo of the plane sitting on the ice.)

 

[albatross710]

Thanks Oxduck. My thoughts even go back as far as when Dick Smith did his Antarctic adventure in which I think he had to understandably arrange all of his fuel supplies as well.

I like all things Antarctic.