7 February 2007
It has been a successful season for the two CASA 212 (C-212) aircraft supporting the Australian Antarctic programme. They have completed all the programmed science support tasks over the summer, including some ambitious remote field work.
As well as ferrying passengers between Casey, Davis and Mawson and depoting fuel at Sansom Island and Beaver Lake to support helicopter operations, the planes flew scientists and their equipment into a number of remote field locations. As they are able to land on unprepared snow and ice surfaces and don't require ground support personnel, the CASAs have been ideal for the remote deployment, support and retrieval of small field parties this season.
The C-212 transportable field skiway grooming equipment pictured below has been trialled with encouraging results at Davis this season. We hope that this will further increase the aircraft's capability to operate on 'off field' surfaces in the future.
 Equipment arriving in CASA 212 at Mawson from Davis
Photo: P. Magill |
|  Loading tracked quad and snow groomer into plane Photo: J. Gronset |
|  Skiway grooming equipment-tracked quad and snow groomer Photo: J. Gronset |
|
This summer's flying programme has included a trip into the
Bunger Hills in support of biological and geophysical research projects, as well as to various other locations. Scientists were also able to conduct valuable geophysical research deep in the southern Prince Charles Mountains at Daltons Corner, Wilsons Bluff, the Grove Mountains and Beaver Lake.
A more ambitious program was a 3000 km return flight to the remote coastal field location of Richardson Lakes in Enderby Land. Operations in this area were last carried out by the AAD during the 1970s and 1980s. Due to its isolation, deployments in the past to this area were logistically intensive with large amounts of shipping and ground support required.
 C-212 flying over Richardson Lakes in Enderby Land
Photo: D. Colborne |
|  Hauling equipment at Richardson Lakes
Photo: M. Stapleton |
|  GPS dome installed at Richardson Lakes Photo: D. Zwartz |
|
At Richardson Lakes, sensitive Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment was installed on bedrock adjacent to Mt Riiser-Larsen. This equipment records small movements in the earth's crust and can potentially be used to enhance ice models and provide insight into future global sea levels. In addition, the GPS will also contribute information for accurate base line mapping and position data to Geoscience Australia.
 Aerial shot of Syowa Station
Photo: J. Lee Steere |
|  Expeditioners at Syowa Station
Photo: Courtesy JARE |
|
On this Enderby Land trip, the aircraft also visited the Japanese station of Syowa, 1000 kms from Mawson. Australian staff were received with the usual high level of Antarctic hospitality and offered a full inspection of station logistics and science facilities. Such familiarity will assist future planned operations to the area by AAD shipping and aircraft.
The CASAs are due to return to Australia towards the end of February.
