SYDNEY, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Supply capabilities for the Antarctic region have been drastically increased, it was announced Wednesday, with the introduction of mid-air refuelling enabling Australian planes to conduct pre-season airdrops to their bases in Antarctica.
The plane, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globemaster III (three) took off from an airport on the outskirts of Melbourne, and covered a staggering 10,000 km round trip to Australia's Davis research station without having to land - due to mid-air refuelling, a first for this kind of flight to the region.
This method of refuelling means that more cargo can be transported to the region, according to the future concepts manager at the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) Matt Filipowski, who told Xinhua in a statement on Wednesday that nine tonnes of cargo can be delivered in this manner - straight on to the sea ice.
"The airdrop included fresh food, medical supplies and mail for the 17 expeditioners who have spent the past six months wintering at the station," Filipowski said.
"It's hoped, in the future, this capability will allow us to pre-position equipment and supplies for station and science projects before the shipping season starts, so it's all ready to go when the first summer expeditioners arrive."
RAAF Flight Lieutenant Justin McFadden, the captain of the flight, said that this was the first time that planes have been refuelled by Australia on missions in the sub-Antarctic region.
"We refuelled about 3 hours into the flight at an altitude of 22,000 feet and speed of 500 km per hour. This allowed us to continue the remaining 4 hours to Davis for the airdrop and return to Hobart," McFadden said.
"Nearing the drop zone, we descended to 5000 feet and slowed to about 270 km per hour, before deploying 15 pallets of cargo in padded containers, each weighing about 700 kg."
The refuelling was completed by a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport near the halfway mark of the mission, as the Globemaster plane was cruising above the Southern Ocean.
The new mid-flight refuelling capability will allow the Australian Antarctic Division to provide year-round airdrops of supplies to the current research stations, as well as drops deep into the interior of Antarctica.
