Wednesday 2 November 2005
First Visitors
Today we've seen our first new faces on base since the end of February. A DC-3 arrived early this morning carrying 2 pilots and 6 passengers on their way to the Russian Novolazarevskaja Station. Despite the early start most of us got up and headed down to the skiway to welcome them. They appeared out of the clouds and stopped for a few hours to refuel their plane before leaving just as quickly - it was almost as if they never came!
The crew managed to find time to pop up to the main platform for a cup of coffee and a look around before they left so we chatted to them for a while about their hectic schedule. In the last week or so they have flown the length of the Americas from their base in Canada, and have a busy season transporting people and cargo all across Antarctica. The plane is owned by a Russian logistics firm rather than a National Antarctic program and provide transport services for a wide range of countries. After five minutes talking to one of the pilots we were all convinced that they have the best job in the world!
The DC-3 being refuelled at the skiway. Picture by Miriam.
This flight marks the beginning of a busy season for Halley International Airport. The DC-3 is likely to return in a week or so for another refuelling stop (this time with an overnight stay). Then later in November the German Dornier aircraft will be passing through, followed quickly by the arrival of the the BAS Twin Otter in early December.
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