12,000-Mile South Pole Rescue Effort Proves Successful | 2 Patients Safely Delivered to Hospital in Chile

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Image credit: British Antarctic Survey A Kenn Borek Air Twin Otter aircraft on approach to the British #Antarctic Survey Station at Rothera as it returns for a medial evacuation flight to the National Science Foundation's Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
Image credit: British Antarctic Survey
A Kenn Borek Air Twin Otter aircraft on approach to the British #Antarctic Survey Station at Rothera as it returns for a medial evacuation flight to the National Science Foundation’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

The extremely rare 12,000+ mile medical evacuation mission to South Pole from Calgary, Canada has been completed successfully.  A Twin Otter aircraft left Calgary on June 14th, harvested the 2 patients on June 21st, and successfully delivered them to a hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile today.

Background:

  • On June 14th a Twin Otter airplane and another plane left Calgary, Canada for a 5-day journey to the South Pole.  The Otter is the primary rescue aircraft.  The other plane has been sent to perform search and rescue if the Otter crashes.
  • The two planes headed to the Amundsen-Scott Research Station at the South Pole to evacuate an 2 unnamed workers, contracted by Lockheed Martin, wit undisclosed medical conditions.
  • The medical condition of the workers must be important since there have been only two extractions from the South Pole since 1957.
  • The sun set at the South Pole on March 20th this year and it won’t be back at all until August.
The Twin Otter aircraft flying an ‪#‎Antarctic‬ medical evacuation mission has arrived at the British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Station.
The Twin Otter aircraft flying an ‪#‎Antarctic‬ medical evacuation mission has arrived at the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station.

UPDATES:

Update: South Pole medical evacuation flight, June 22

A Twin Otter aircraft flying a medical-evacuation flight to bring two patients out of the National Science Foundation’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile at approximately 9:41PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

From Punta Arenas, the two patients aboard will be transported to a medical facility that can provide a level of care that is not available at Amundsen-Scott. NSF is not disclosing the location of that facility, discussing any details of the patients’ medical conditions or providing any personal details.

The plane arrived at the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station at approximately 1:15 p.m. EDT today. It left Amundsen-Scott in the early morning hours of June 22 EDT.

NSF determined that, to mitigate risks, it would use the medical-evacuation flight to bring out a second patient. Both patients are seasonal employees through Lockheed Martin Antarctic Support Contract, the prime contract for operations and research support to NSF for the U.S. Antarctic Program.

A second Twin Otter, now at Rothera, will fly north at a later time. One plane had remained at Rothera during the Pole flight to provide search-and-rescue capability as needed.” – National Science Foundation

The Twin Otter aircraft flying an ‪#‎Antarctic‬ medical evacuation mission has arrived at the British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Station.
The Twin Otter aircraft flying an ‪#Antarctic‬ medical evacuation mission has arrived at the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station.  image:  national science foundation

Update:  South Pole Medical evacuation flight, June 22

The Twin Otter aircraft flying an Antarctic medical evacuation mission has arrived at the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station.

The plane, carrying two patients, arrived at Rothera at approximately 1:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) this afternoon. The plane left the National Science Foundation (NSF) Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in the early morning hours of June 22 EDT.

The aircraft arrived yesterday afternoon at the station, at which point the crew began a 10-hour rest period. Following crew rest, the team checked the weather at both the pole and Rothera and decided conditions warranted flying immediately north.

NSF determined that, to mitigate risks, the team would use the opportunity to evacuate a second patient. Both patients are seasonal employees through Lockheed Martin Antarctic Support Contract, the prime contract for operations and research support to NSF for the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Both patients now will be flown to a medical facility that provides a level of care not available at the South Pole. NSF is not discussing any details of the patients’ medical conditions or providing any personal details.

The Twin Otter aircraft on a medical-evacuation flight taxis at NSF's Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station today. image: national science foundation
The Twin Otter aircraft on a medical-evacuation flight taxis at NSF’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station today. image: national science foundation

Update: South Pole Medical evacuation flight, June 22

The Twin Otter aircraft flying an Antarctic medical-evacuation mission has left the National Science Foundation’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station en route to the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station.” – National Science Foundation

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station yesterday. "The bright light in the Webcam image, behind the building, is from the aircraft operations. Although the South Pole is currently in the midst of the months-long Antarctic night, the camera used there is very light-sensitive and provides a clear image even in the darkness. The moon also provides additional light." - National Science Foundation
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station today. “The bright light in the Webcam image, behind the building, is from the aircraft operations. Although the South Pole is currently in the midst of the months-long Antarctic night, the camera used there is very light-sensitive and provides a clear image even in the darkness. The moon also provides additional light.” – National Science Foundation

Update: South Pole Medical evacuation flight, June 21

An Antarctic medical-evacuation flight has arrived at the National Science Foundation’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

The plane will now remain at the Pole for roughly 10 hours to allow the aircrew to rest. The crew will then assess weather conditions at both Pole and the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station before flying back to Rothera.

The plane left Rothera early this morning for the flight to the Pole.

The bright light in the Webcam image, behind the building, is from the aircraft operations. Although the South Pole is currently in the midst of the months-long Antarctic night, the camera used there is very light-sensitive and provides a clear image even in the darkness. The moon also provides additional light.” – National Science Foundation

A medical-evacuation flight to the South Pole left the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station early this morning (local time) and is on the way to the National Science Foundation’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
A medical-evacuation flight to the South Pole left the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station early yesterday morning (local time) and is shown taking off to the National Science Foundation’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.  image:  national science foundation

Update: South Pole Medical evacuation flight, June 21

A medical-evacuation flight to the South Pole left the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station early this morning (local time) and is on the way to the National Science Foundation’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

The Kenn Borek Air Twin Otter is expected to arrive at the station at approximately 5PM Eastern Standard Time. The aircrew took advantage of a favorable weather window to leave at approximately 8AM on June 21. – National Science Foundation

 


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3 thoughts on “12,000-Mile South Pole Rescue Effort Proves Successful | 2 Patients Safely Delivered to Hospital in Chile

  1. I have still not figured out the configuration of the two Otters. They flew to Punta Arenas on wheels. Then what? Were they reconfigured there to something else? The supposed picture at Amundsen-Scott Base seems to show an Otter on straight boards yet subsequently landing back at Rothera on wheel/skis. Any answers would be appreciated. Thanks.

    1. Hey Don, one was an otter, one wasn’t. Not sure what they other plane was.. Didn’t notice that the skis vs wheel/skis thing. Very interesting. Thanks.

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