No SAR, No Backup And No Fuel
"Well, Fred, you knew the job was dangerous when you took
it."
--Cartoon hero Super Chicken to sidekick Fred the Lion
Jon Johanson was to have flown out of McMurdo-Scott Base in
Antarctica Saturday after becoming the first pilot ever to fly an
experimental single-engine aircraft over the South Pole. Now,
Johanson is at the center of a controversy between Australia and
its two closest allies -- New Zealand and the US. Officials from
New Zealand and the United States see Johanson's attempt as a huge
imposition and have refused to sell him the fuel he needs to get
home. Hence, Johanson has been stranded.
Johanson left Invercargill, New Zealand, December 7th on a
record-setting flight to Ushuaia, Argentina in his home-built RV4.
But the plan was a risky one at best. The landing at McMurdo-Scott
was unplanned, according to a Johanson news release. "[H]eadwinds
were much stronger than forecast. With airports few and far between
in the Antarctic, Jon changed his destination to fly to McMurdo
after overflying the South Pole."
Antarctica New Zealand was clearly "put out" with Johanson's
adventure and with his refusal to accept an expensive ride home,
sans RV.
"Neither the US or NZ
Scott Base was informed of the flight and no preparations made for
contingency or emergency landing," the organization writes on its
web site. "Had the pilot failed to reach McMurdo, he would have
required the resources of the US and NZ programmes to rescue him
placing many lives at risk."
Still, Antarctica New Zealand was willing to help. "We have
extended the pilot the normal courtesies routinely offered by New
Zealand and US stations in Antarctica. The pilot should have made
the decision to abandon his original flight plans much sooner when
faced with these weather conditions and returned to Invercargill,"
said Sanson. “We will offer him transport back to
Christchurch on one of the regularly scheduled flights between
McMurdo and Christchurch and will discuss provisions."
Officially, both New Zealand and American officials say they
simply don't have the kind of fuel Johanson needs to make his
flight. But the level of animosity displayed by Antarctica New
Zealand seems to indicate a darker agenda.
Sanson and his
organization were clearly bitter about the whole incident. The New
Zealanders harshly criticized what they said was poor planning on
Johanson's part, comparing his venture to that of fellow
globetrotting pilot Polly Vacher of Great Britain.
"She and her staff spent two years preparing for her flight with
significant advice from national Antarctic programs. It is ironic
that she is now assisting a stranded pilot who embarked upon an
ill-prepared and secret flight over the South Pole."
Vacher (above right), who had planned to circumnavigate the
globe on a polar route, cancelled her flight over the South Pole
days before Johanson left New Zealand. She cited the unavailability
of fuel and harsh weather conditions. Vacher, a grandmother whose
trip was two years in the making, then offered Johanson the fuel he
needs to make it home. She'd sent the fuel ahead to McMurdo-Scott
Base, which is operated by the United States and Antarctica New
Zealand, so that he could fly his aircraft home instead of shipping
it.