Mail closing dates

Mail closing dates

Please note: The mail closing dates for 2009-10 are published under individual voyage information. For example, Voyage 1 mail closing date info is on the specific voyage information web page.

Mail to go on flights must be received a minimum of two full business days prior to the flight. For example, if the flight is on Tuesday morning, then mail cut-off is Thursday afternoon at 3pm.

Format

The correct format for addressing mail to expeditioners in Antarctica or Macquarie Island is as follows:

**Please note: If you want an expeditioner still in training at AAD Kingston to receive an item of mail rather than at the station please include the words 'in training' after their name.

If you are sending mail that may be delivered by plane please note:

Voyages marked with a helicopter symbol (#) indicate where the AAD will need to fly Australia Post mail from the ship to the designated station via helicopter, or between stations via helicopter. The distances of these flights are often long and therefore limitations and priorities are imposed in order to transfer the large number of personnel and significant quantities of cargo to these stations. These demands may impact on the AAD's ability to transport mail on these flights.

A319 flights may deliver Australia Post mail to Casey station on an opportunistic basis only, thus a delivery date cannot be confirmed for mail to be delivered to Casey via A319. Under such circumstances, priority is given to the transfer of expeditioners and essential cargo rather than mail. There will be very limited scope for the AAD to transfer mail from Casey to either Davis station via fixed wing aircraft during the 2008-2009 season.

In order to assist in limiting the volume and weight of Australia Post mail delivered to stations via helicopter or fixed wing aircraft, the AAD has developed some important guidelines that will assist in the delivery of Australia Post mail to the stations. These guidelines only apply to Australia Post mail delivered to stations by voyages in the above table marked with a helicopter (k) or aircraft (ñ) symbol.

• Mail should be limited to the following sizes and weights:
  • a moderate number of C5 envelopes (27 x 19cm) with a maximum weight of 500 g per item, per expeditioner; or
  • 2 "shoe box" sized packages (30 x 18cm) with a maximum weight of 3 kg per item, per expeditioner.

All mail must adhere to normal Australia Post restrictions as well as adhering to the AAD's environmental and quarantine requirements.

Cargo

If you have packages that are too large or too bulky to post, they can be transported by ship to the stations as cargo.

The web pages will also provide important information on the AAD's environmental and quarantine requirements for cargo.

For further information on how to organise to have cargo transported to the stations please visit our cargo web pages, or contact the Cargo Facility on (03) 6232 3190.