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Today the plan was to start early to achieve at least 2 flights, and allow sufficient time to put the helicopters to bed in their container hangers, before the weather was to close in. At 06:00 the team gathered around the table in the voyage management office for the morning weather brief from our on board forecaster. The forecast delivered this morning indicated the possibility of fitting in a third flight before we would need to pack up the helicopters and give the helicopter team a well earned break in their duty hours.
Not long after 07:30 both helicopters were filled to the roof and departed with the next load of cargo bound for Mawson.
Each time the helicopters depart the ship the Voyage Resupply Coordinator and her team prepare the next load on the deck. Carefully selecting heavier loads such as potatoes and carrots which would form the base before packing lighter cargo to bulk out the cabin.
By early afternoon both helicopters were back on the ship having completed three sorties to Mawson, and the process of dismantling them and packing them in their storage and transport containers commenced. By 16:00 both helicopters were tucked away safely ready to wait out the weather, which had begun to close in, and snow lightly as the wind speeds picked up.
The next few days will bring a welcome break for all who have been busy over the last eight days of intense flying, both on the ship and ashore at Mawson. Thank you to everyone who has helped so far in the fly-off to Mawson, it has been a real team effort to get us to where we are today.
REGARDS: Andy, Jenn and Lauren
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.