Mon, Nov 03, 2008
C-17 Globemaster Stranded On Antarctic Ice
The Royal New Zealand Air Force was called on last week to
assist a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster that had been stranded for
several days in Antarctica by mechanical problems.
The RNZAF dispatched a P-3K Orion to Antarctica last Wednesday
with three USAF maintenance engineers and spare parts aboard to
repair a faulty fuel control unit on the C-17 that had prevented
the aircraft from resuming duty.
Royal New Zealand Air Force Commodore Gavin Howse said, "While
it is early in the season for the Air Force to be flying to the
ice, and by its very nature there is some risk involved with
Antarctic operations, our crews are well trained and have three
years of P-3K ice experience to call upon."
Still based in the states, US Air Force C-130 Hercules crews
were unavailable for the mission. By provisions of an emergency
support agreement between the US National Science Foundation and
Antarctica New Zealand, the RNZAF was called upon to deliver much
needed parts and mechanical support.
Also unavailable for the mission, the RNZAF's primary Antarctic
support aircraft, a fleet of C-130 Hercules, is on operations in
East Timor and being upgraded in Canada. Regularly scheduled
flights to Antarctica New Zealand are not slated to begin until
early January, the New Zealand Herald said.
Readily available for the assist, the P-3K Orion has been part
of regular flights to Antarctica since early 2006, making routine
patrols of the Southern Ocean.
Repaired and back in the air, the USAF Globemaster has already
returned to Christchurch, NZ and is beginning scheduled flights
back to the Antarctic ice.
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