STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SCOTIA, NY (10/21/2009)(readMedia)-- The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing kicked off its 21st year of support for American Antarctic research today, as two ski-equipped C-130s roared off the runway here bound for the South Pole.

"Today we're taking one of the first planes down to Antarctica," said Lt. Col. George Alston, aircraft commander. "We will fly to California then to Hawaii then to Pago Pago where the recent tsunami was. From there, we'll go to New Zealand, and from there to Antarctica where we'll start the Operation Deep Freeze season."

The 109th 's ski-equipped LC-130s will be flying in support of National Science Foundation research across the Antarctic, as part of Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. Military's logistical support for Antarctic research.

This season brings a lot of firsts for the crews. The early deploying aircraft will support the National Science Foundation's Western Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide Ice Core project. This project involves drilling ice cores to establish a climate and greenhouse gas history for the southern hemisphere.

The 109th will also support the Australians Casey Antarctic Station on Wilke Island for the first time.

One aircraft was carrying a crevasse detection radar that will be used in Antarctica for the first time.

"We're hoping that with the radar is a faster turnaround in the amount of time to check on a site," said Capt. Daniel Marchegiani, co-pilot.

"The radar will determine where the crevasses are and we'll be able to put scientists into that location much sooner than having to wait a whole year. Safety is always the first and most important thing. Being able to see where these things are before we touch down on the snow or before we even attempt to try and get into a different area of the continent is extremely paramount to what we do."

And according to Maj. Joseph DeConno, chief of Antarctic Operations, in the middle of the season, crews will be going from using two runways to single-airfield operations.

"It's an aggressive schedule where we're testing a new concept of single-airfield operations, which we haven't done in previous seasons," he said. "The second half of the season, we're moving all operations out to Pegasus Field for the first time and not using Willie Field. We're optimistic we'll do it safely and crews, as usual, will do their best to get the job done."

The 109th Airlift Wing, the only unit in the United States military equipped with ski landing gear, has provided airlift support for the National Science Foundation's South Pole research since 1988. Since 1999 the unit has been the sole provided of this type of airlift to the National Science Foundation and United States Antarctic research efforts.

In 1999 a crew from the 109th Airlift Wing made a daring rescue of Dr. Jerri Nielsen, a staff member at the Amundson-Scott Station at the South Pole who was suffering from breast cancer. An LC-130 from the wing landed in bitter cold, far earlier in the season than they normally fly, to retrieve the doctor.

In 2008 another 109th LC-130 rescued an Australian researcher who had broken his leg in an accident and flew him to Hobart, Australia from Antarctica.

Video Link: http://dmna.state.ny.us/video/video.php?vid=109aw_deep_freeze_oct21_09.wmv

Photo Cutlines:

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2Lt Christine Reape (Navigator) and SMSgt Mark Olena (Flight Engineer) walkout to a ski equipped LC-130 Hercules. The seven member crew leave New Yorktoday and make the 11.000 mile journey to Antarctica in support of the United States Antarctica Program. The 109th Airlift Wing is part of the NewYork Air National Guard located in Scotia New York.

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A ski equipped LC-130 Hercules finishes final preparation before leaving New York today and make the 11.000 mile journey to Antarctica in support of the United States Antarctica Program. The 109th Airlift Wing is part of the New York Air National Guard located in Scotia New York.

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A ski equipped LC-130 Hercules takes off from Stratton Air National Guard Base in Schenectady New York. The 109th Airlift Wing sends seven aircraft on the 11.000 mile journey to Antarctica in support of the United States Antarctica Program. The 109th Airlift Wing is part of the New York Air National Guard located in Scotia New York.

Photos by Master Sgt. Willie Gizara, 109th Airlift Wing (Released)

Background:

Operation Deep Freeze:

Operation Deep Freeze is the code name for the United States military's support to the U.S. Antarctic Program, conducted annually since 1955.

Operation Deep Freeze involves operational and logistic support of the National Science Foundation's scientific research activities in Antarctica by U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army and Coast Guard forces. This support is provided by the Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, led by 13th Air Force here. JTF SFA coordinates strategic intertheater airlift, tactical deep field support, aeromedical evacuation support, search and rescue response, sealift, seaport access, bulk fuel supply, port cargo handling and transportation requirements.

Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand, is the staging point for deployment to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, a key research and operations facility for the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Airlift for Operation Deep Freeze involves active-duty and Reserve C-17 support from McChord AFB along with the New York Air National Guard LC-130 Hercules aircraft from Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, N.Y.

The 109th Airlift Wing:

The ancestor of the 109th Airlift Wing, the New York Air National Guard's 139th Fighter Squadron was first organized in 1948 and flew World War II era Thunderbolt P-47s. In 1960 the unit began flying transport aircraft and in 1975 it acquired the mission of flying supply missions to Cold War radar stations in the Arctic and Iceland.

Since 1988 the 109th Airlift Wing has been providing support to the National Science Foundation's South Pole Research stations and in 1999 it became the only unit in the U.S. military flying ski-equipped transport aircraft. Previously the 109th had shared the mission with the U.S. Navy.

The wing operates LC-130 ski-equipped aircraft as well as conventional C-130s and has flown combat missions in support of Coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Posted Wednesday October 21, 2009 at 06:27 pm by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Thursday August 26, 2010 at 09:29 am