Casey battles wild weather to pack down Wilkins Aerodrome, just in time for winter.

Time to break camp

With a busy flying season coming to an end it was time for the wintering Wilkins team, along with support from the dedicated crew at Casey, to complete the pack down of the aerodrome facilities. With the weather at this time of year shifting towards colder temperatures and more blizzards, it was a difficult process to undertake, with temperatures dropping to as low as −59°C plus wind chill.

After numerous trips to station transporting machines and equipment, clearing the runway with the Overaasen snow blowers and removing snow from the laydown and camp area, the job was completed with us returning to Casey for the winter.

Photo of the weather display on the phone showing ambient outside temperature of −31° and wind speed at 44 kn.
A D7 dozer pushing snow off in the distance on a blue ski day.
A small skid steer machine on the snow ready to push out the runway lighting sleds.
Three dozers staggered in line all pushing a large mound of snow in front of them.
A large red Quadtrak tractor parked out in the snow covered in frost.
Frozen ice crystals on a window which make very pretty patterns.
A snow groomer in front of three Quadtrak tractors all in a line hauling equipment back to Casey station.

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