NSF PR 01-34 - April 20, 2001
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New Zealand Aircraft to Fly Mission to U.S. McMurdo
Station
A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) cargo plane
will fly to McMurdo Station, Antarctica to transport
several U.S. citizens to New Zealand, some of whom
require medical attention that cannot be provided
in Antarctica.
The wheeled, C-130 aircraft will leave Christchurch,
New Zealand on Monday, April 23 (Christchurch time)
to pick up the patients from the main U.S. research
station in Antarctica. The patients are all employees
of Raytheon Polar Services Co., which supports Antarctic
research under contract to the U.S. National Science
Foundation (NSF). At their request, personal information
and information about their medical conditions is
being kept confidential.
The RNZAF is undertaking the mission at the request
of NSF through the New Zealand Antarctic Institute.
NSF manages the U.S. Antarctic Program. New Zealand
and the United States cooperate extensively in the
airlift of researchers, cargo, and support personnel
to and from Antarctica during the research summer
season, which lasts from October to February.
"The USAP is extremely grateful to the RNZAF for undertaking
this mission," said Karl Erb, who heads NSF's Office
of Polar Programs. "This action exemplifies the spirit
of partnership that characterizes the relationship
between the U.S. and New Zealand Antarctic programs."
The flight is unrelated to the evacuation of Dr. Ronald
S. Shemenski from NSF's Amundsen-Scott South Pole
Station.
Editors: For updated information about the Shemenski
evacuation from Raytheon Polar Services Co. see: http://www.polar.org/medevac/index.htm
See also: Related News
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