Report on aircraft operations in Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition

A small fixed wing aircraft was used in the summer seasons from the First Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-1,1956-57) to JARE-12 (1970-71) at Syowa Station, Antarctica. However, flight hours were less than 55 hours in each summer season because of the limited operation period of relief s...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nozomi Murakoshi, Masashi Sano
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Japanese
Published: National Institute of Polar Research 1985
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15094/00008437
https://doaj.org/article/88f88b9d8987449f927c4dd3ea2f7a53
Description
Summary:A small fixed wing aircraft was used in the summer seasons from the First Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-1,1956-57) to JARE-12 (1970-71) at Syowa Station, Antarctica. However, flight hours were less than 55 hours in each summer season because of the limited operation period of relief ships in the vicinity of Syowa Station. In recent years, one Cessna 185 and one Pilatus PC-6 were operated throughout the year at Syowa Station by two pilots and one mechanic, stationing the aircraft for two years at Syowa and repatriating one year. The recent total yearly flight hours are over 350 hours. Since the aircrafts are operated from a sea-ice runway, several problems are experienced such as the deterioration of the runway surface during midsummer, mooring of aircraft, and sea ice breaking. To ensure the safe operation, various precautions are taken on flight plan, maintenance of aircraft, weather observations, and other matters.