A C-17A from No 36 Squadron at RAAF Amberley has made a maiden flight from Hobart to Wilkins Airfield in Antarctica, landing on the icy runway to complete a joint operation with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Wilkins is about 70 kilometres from Casey Station, Australia’s largest base in Antarctica.
Commander Air Mobility Group, Air Commodore Richard Lennon said the C-17 carried about 20 tonnes of cargo and people, to enable the C-17 to fly the 3,500 kilometre route to Wilkins and return unrefuelled.
Using military assets to deliver equipment and supplies is an important first for the Antarctic Division, according to Director Dr Nick Gales, who said the cargo on board the flight would normally have been transported by sea onboard the Aurora Australis icebreaker.
On arrival at Wilkins, a team of AAD and RAAF personnel unloaded the cargo, which included a new Hagglund dual-cab vehicle used for transport across the snow and ice covered terrain, along with two quad bikes. Pallet loads of building materials also brought onboard will be used for construction works at Casey Station.
Logistics support using RAAF C-17 airlifters is regarded as an important option, with carriage by sea often problematic, and it opens up other possibilities such as medical evacuation from Antarctica. Previously, the need to make the flight from Hobart to Wilkins and return unrefuelled has been a hurdle for other RAAF airlift aircraft.
As part of ongoing training for RAAF personnel, a simulated aeromedical evacuation from Wilkins enabled the crew and an onboard medical evacuation team to practise a core operational task under challenging conditions.
With the eighth C-17A Globemaster delivered recently to 36 Squadron the RAAF not only has worldwide reach, with the C-17’s long range and speed performance, but also the assets to support a number of operations globally – including support for RAAF operations in the Middle East and humanitarian assistance tasks.