This week was quite busy and went by fairly quickly, but without a lot of flights. Monday was suppose to bring out our science group and Tuesday bringing out Twin Otter aircraft to support them. However, despite being on the flight schedule twice a day, no LC-130 has been able to make it out to us in nearly a week. KBA and their Twin Otter ended surprised us by coming in Monday instead during a nice weather window.
The KBA Twin Otter crew is based out of Canada and their airplane is used for remote field operations and they can basically land on any surface. The science group will be flying out to various remote weather stations, so it’s the perfect aircraft for those types of missions. For more info, check out: https://borekair.com/fleet/dhc6/
Additionally, our traverse group is back from their adventure of moving stuff to Byrd Surface Camp, so we welcomed them back with the finest toilet paper finish!
Most of this week was sitting in a holding pattern. Either weather wasn’t good here or at McMurdo or the plane broke or crew rest. So, it was a lot of work and gearing up for no planes…UNTIL we finally go our LC-130 that arrived at 2345L on Friday night. Which for me, meant that I started work at the standard 0800 time and was on until about 0300L the next day. Fortunately, I did get to sleep in before the rest of Saturday work before switching back to the early morning shifts again (observations start 6 hours before flight). But our science group is now here! And I’m especially interested since it is the AWS (Automated Weather Station) grantees from University of Wisconsin Madison, so more weather folks at camp!
Sunday is typically our day off, but since our science group hasn’t been able to start and the weather was supposed to be better today, so they decided to fly. So, an early morning and long day for me, but happy to be supporting science.
Not too many updates this week, it’s been busy and tiring, but I’m doing well and happy to be doing my job!
See you all next week!
Hi Erin,
How exciting for those weather students who came out to your camp!
What kind of science research are you and the group doing?
I can’t imagine having to get all bundled up day after day and go out in that bitter cold!
We just have a few questions about your daily life out there if have time to answer.
Does the group or individuals have dinner in a tent or temporary building together?
Do you get to eat with fellow members each night or only on weekends?
Do they give a “polar bear fur blanket to sleep in?
Keep warm and safe out there!
Love,
Dad & Jackie