Airmen provide reach for South Pole science missions

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo
  • Air Force Print News
McMURDO STATION, Antarctica (AFPN) --  Active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. and the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing combined efforts to support the 13th Air Force-led Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze main season.

The main season, which opened Sept. 28, is the main science research season for the National Science Foundation in Antarctica. The population of McMurdo Station triples in size and it becomes a hive of activity.

The Air Force's role is to provide logistical support to the National Science Foundation via strategic and tactical airlift. C-17's fly from Christchurch, New Zealand to McMurdo station and LC-130 fly from McMurdo to the outlying camps and the South Pole.

"We provide strategic airlift and tactical airlift for the National Science Foundation," said Lt. Col. Jim McGann, the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander. "In saying that, we bring cargo and people down there in a time-critical nature to get them onto the ice to do the required science and everything else they need to do in a short time," he said.

Once the C-17s bring in their large loads of equipment and people, the loads are broken down into smaller loads for the LC-130s Hercules to take over. The LC-130s, stationed on the annual sea ice runway, then ferry the smaller loads and people to the other outposts and the South Pole.

"The LC-130s provide access to the deeper recesses of the continent," said Mike Scheuermann, the National Science Foundation representative in Antarctica. "We couldn't begin to do the research that we do without the LCs," he said.

The main research season for Antarctica is only about four months long. According to Colonel McGann, it is critical that the C-17s and LC-130s get equipment, cargo and people where they need to be and back. The NSF relies on the Air Force to get equipment and people in and out of Antarctica as efficiently as possible, minimizing the impact on the station and the continent and getting their research done in a timely manner.

"When you start talking about traversing the large distances associated with Antarctica--all provided by the military--it has been an outstanding service," said Mr. Scheuermann. "The normal maintenance availability on aircraft back when I was in the Navy and the Navy was supporting the operation, if you had an aircraft availability of 70 percent that was a good target," he said.

"The 109th out here with their LCs last year were at 97 percent of aircraft availability--just phenomenal--almost unheard of in my time. The air link that is run by the C-17s between Christchurch and here--I haven't seen one cancel for mechanical purposes this year," Mr. Scheuermann went on to say.

According to Mr. Scheuermann the Air Force provides a very reliable and good service. The Air Force provides the National Science Foundation with the tentacles they need to reach the various parts of the continent and conduct their science.

"We couldn't do it with out them," said Mr. Scheuermann.