Landing of First Intercontinental Flight at Perseus Airstrip
On 22 November 2019, the first intercontinental DROMLAN flight to Perseus Airstrip arrived from Cape Town around 18:00 UTC. This was a historic moment!
Located just 60 km north of the Princess Elisabeth Station, the new airstrip will save sicentists going to and from the station lots of time (no connector flights or long layovers) and money (about 6000 Euros per person) in logistical costs.
Scientists from the CHASE, MASS2ANT, and LOSUMEA projects were passengers on the historic flight!
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The first teams of scientists of the 2019-2020 season checking in at Cape Town International Airport for the first intercontinental flight to Perseus Airstrip, located just 60 km from the Princess Elisabeth Station!
© International Polar Foundation
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The first scientists of the 2019-2020 season form the CHASE, MASS2ANT and LOSUMEA projects pose at Cape Town International Airport before leaving for Antarctica.
© International Polar Foundation
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Bags are packed and ready!
© International Polar Foundation
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Time to board the flight to Antarctica! Next stop, Perseus Airstrip!
© International Polar Foundation
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The BELARE team hanging out in the cargo area on the flight to Antarctica
© International Polar Foundation
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Iyushin coming in for a landing at Persus Airstrip.
© International Polar Foundation
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Touching down...
© International Polar Foundation
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The Ilyushin comes to a halt on Perseus Airstrip. The first intercontinental flight to the new airstrip has now arrived!
© International Polar Foundation
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Time to unload the cargo from the Ilyushin!
© International Polar Foundation
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Everyone has alighted from the plane and is helping to unload the cargo.
© International Polar Foundation
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It's nice to be able to unload cargo so close to the station. It saves time and money!
© International Polar Foundation
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Unloading the cargo will take several hours. The scientists will go ahead to the Princess Elisabeth Station to get some rest while a logistics team will follow them once all the cargo has been loaded onto sledges to be hauled hauled by Prinoth tractors.
© International Polar Foundation
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Here we're unloading cargo at the station along with fresh food that our talented cook will use to make some of the great meals that the Princes Elisabeth Station has become known for.
© International Polar Foundation
