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Operation Deep Freeze winter fly-in wraps up

By Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo, Air Force Print News / Published August 27, 2007

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CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AFPN) -- Operation Deep Freeze 2007-08 winter fly-in season ended with its final C-17 Globemaster III flight to Pegasus White Ice Runway today. The 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron flew a total of 355 passengers and 119,953 pounds of cargo to and from McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

McMurdo Station serves as the logistical hub for much of the U.S. Antarctic Program. With the influx of cargo and people delivered by the C-17, McMurdo will begin preparations for the main summer research season. They will prepare buildings, offices, equipment and an ice runway on McMurdo Sound for the arrival of the main body population of scientists and support staff.

Winter fly-in, or WinFly is the coldest time of the year. Temperatures of -40 degrees are not uncommon and wind chills can cause the temperatures to be -130 degrees. Despite these extremes and only one delay due to bad weather, the C-17 crews dealt with the adversity and considered their mission highly successful.

"The mission was outstanding. It couldn't have gone any better if we planed it," said Capt. Cory Simmons, a pilot with the 304th EAS.

As a reliable platform for ODF the Globemaster can carry maximum passengers, cargo and fuel that extends their point of safe return to Antarctica and back with reduced risks. With minor changes to the aircraft each mission is carefully planned to meet the U.S. Antarctic Program's needs for their mission.

"The C-17 is designed to fly all around the world, the same way all the time. Everything is onboard ready to go to fight any fight," said Senior Master Sgt. Jim Masura, the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron superintendent. "It's not big changes that we did for WinFly; it just gives the customer and us more flexibility with the weight and fuel; and gives us a little safety factor," he said

Although most missions did not shut down because of lighter loads, more gas and less time on the ground in Antarctic, the final C-17 mission did. Carrying 68,357 pounds cargo the C-17 had more weight and less gas.

With a two-hour time frame aircrews and maintainers were busy at work. The loadmasters unloaded and loaded cargo while the maintainers took on fuel and placed heaters at key points on the aircraft to ensure the engines and landing gears would not freeze up. To ensure the integrity of the flight functions on the C-17 the pilots kept busy cycling through the flight controls to keep the hydraulic fluids warm.

"Just because it is WinFly and so cold, you worry about shutting down the engines," said Capt. Simmons. "When we land everyone is doing something. The crew is large, not because of training, but because we have eyes on everything to make sure there's no problems and everything is running smoothly," he said.

WinFly missions to Antarctica can be a daunting task because of weather, frigid temperatures, cargo loads and people. Efficiency, safety and meeting the customers needs ended the successful week-long flurry of activity for the WinFly Airman. The last mission, like the previous ones, went by with zero problems.

"It was extremely uneventful-which is how we like it," said Capt. Simmons. "

Operation Deep Freeze, the 13th Air Force-led Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica mission, is divided into three seasons: Winfly, main body and winter. It involves active duty and Reserve C-17 support from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. LC-130 from the New York Air National Guard and other aircraft necessary to support the mission, as well as Coast Guard icebreakers and the Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One to provide critical port services at McMurdo Station.

With WinFly complete, two seasons remain and the 304th EAS will continue to look to 13th Air Force who has the capability to provide joint operational and logistical support around the clock for Operation Deep Freeze.

"13th Air Force knows we are experts at strategic and intercontinental airlift. That's what we do and that's why they pay us," said Lt. Col. Jim McGann, 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander. "13th Air Force is there supporting us and backing us 100 percent and that makes it easier to get the job done," Col. McGann said.