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How many flights will the C-212s make this season?Between them, the aircraft will undertake about 350 hours of flying. Of this time, about 100 flights will be inter-station flights between Casey, Davis and Mawson. Flights are also planned to Syowa and Molodezhnaya
The balance of time will be in support of field science, deploying and collecting parties and equipment to and from various locations. How long will it take the C-212s to fly to Antarctica?The aircraft fly from Hobart to Casey via Dumont D'urville at the beginning of the season around late October and will return to Hobart at the end of the season in February. These ferry flights will take approximately 12 hours and only the flight crew will be on board the aircraft.
What will happen to the planes when they are not in use?During breaks between flights in Antarctica, the two C-212s are secured to the ice with tie-downs as there are no aircraft hangars.
After the summer season, the planes will return to Australia and be available for third party work during the winter months. Although the two planes are both equipped with skis, they can be easily converted to wheeled aircraft. Have C-212 aircraft ever been used in Australia before?There are 460 C-212 aircraft in service worldwide, with more than 2.5 million flight hours logged.
The latest model of the aircraft is the C212-400 which is very new with fewer than 20 aircraft manufactured. None have been flown in Australia.
Who owns the planes?The C-212s are owned by Skytraders Pty. Ltd. Are C-212s usually fitted with skis?No model of C-212 has previously been flown with skis.
How does the plane land on skis at Casey if it leaves Hobart on wheels?The C-212 aircraft used by the AAD will always be fitted with wheels, but they can raise or lower skis as well. This means that the planes can land on skis or wheels at a skiway depending on the hardness of the surface. What modifications have been made for the AAD?The C-212s have undergone a number of modifications prior to deployment for their first season with the Australian Antarctic Programme. These include being fitted with:
- Skis
- Iridium satellite phones
- Cockpit voice recorders
- Flight data recorders
- Astro compasses
- Three purpose-built fuel tanks in the cabin which will be installed for the flights to and from Antarctica.
- Still and video cameras
Do the C-212s need a large area for take-off and landing?The C-212 is a purpose-built STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) aircraft intended for rough field trips and military /government operations.
Although it is an 8 tonne aircraft, it is very capable in terms of short field take-offs and landings, a feature which makes it ideal for remote area Antarctic flights. What fuel do the aircraft use?The planes use aviation turbine kerosene (ATK) which has icing inhibitor added. Fuel itself doesn't freeze below about minus 50° C, but it often contains water molecules suspended in it. The icing inhibitor works by removing the water from the fuel. How many engines does each C-212 have?The C-212 is a turboprop, twin-enginned aircraft. Each engine has a capacity of 925 horse power. Are many fuel depots required for the C-212?Due to its larger range, the C-212's requirement for fuel depots is considerably less than in previous years when the De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft have been used, and even less than those required for helicopters. How many pilots are required for each plane?There are two pilots on each flight. How are skiways different from runways?Skiways are designed for ski equipped aircraft, whereas wheeled aircraft use runways.
The C-212 aircraft used by the AAD will always be fitted with wheels, but they can raise or lower skis as well. This means that the planes can land on skis or wheels at a skiway depending on the hardness of the surface.
For field operations, the C-212s can land on certain unprepared surfaces if necessary. Where will the C-212s land in Antarctica?At Casey, the planes land throughout the season on a prepared skiway on the plateau several kilometres behind the station. Passengers will be transported to the station in over-snow vehicles called Hagglunds, a trip which takes approximately 1 hour.
During the earlier part of the summer at Davis, the aircraft will land on the sea-ice in front of the station. Once the sea-ice breaks out, they will land on a plateau skiway about 40 km from Davis. Passengers will fly to the station by Squirrel helicopters.
At Mawson the planes will land initially land on the sea-ice in front of the station until it breaks out. After this, they will land on the plateau behind the station and travel the 10 kms to Mawson in Hagglunds, which takes about an hour.
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