Edited by Rachel Duncan 4th Edition ISBN 0-907649-91-2 London ...

5.2.3 Landing sites
Transport and Travel 43
Most polar outfitters have prepared landing sites that they use and maintain during the
operating season. However, should you require an unplanned evacuation, the incoming
pilot will require detailed information about the area in which he will land and where
practical ask that you prepare a basic runway on which he can land safely. His questions
will include some of the following:
• Co-ordinates of your present position;
• Weather conditions:
o wind direction and speed
o cloud height and type
o ground contrast (flat light) and horizon definition
o temperature
o any recent changes in local weather
• Length and orientation of runway and thickness of the ice if on sea ice;
• How many members are in your party?
• How many will be airlifted to safety and how many will continue the expedition?
• Approx. weight and volume of your equipment?
• What is the condition of the snow surface in the immediate area? Can you create a
smooth area (pilot will give dimensions) into wind with markers either side, No
obstructions, not close to mountains, into wind landing?
• Should the pilot expect ground signals from your group, i.e. signal mirrors, fires,
flares, etc?
• It is very useful to be able to speak to your air support whilst they are in the air, and
a VHF hand held radio can be a lightweight and practical solution. Find out in
advance what frequencies the air charter company uses and whether they can lend
or hire you a hand held radio for this purpose. If possible exchange the Ni-cad
battery pack for one that takes AA batteries then you can have power when it is
needed. This can be especially useful if the weather in your location is poor and the
re-supply aircraft is in your area but cannot land. In this situation you could ask for
items to be air dropped or for the pilot to stay in the area for an agreed amount of
time in the hope that a clearing in the weather appears.
Re-supply by air
If planning for re-supply by charter aircraft, particularly in Antarctica, it is cheaper if the
air charter company can land and place your cache at a prearranged location at a date and
time convenient to the air charter operator, i.e. in advance of your team’s arrival. It is much
more expensive if you want the re-supply aircraft to rendezvous with your party at an exact
location at a specific time.
On the Arctic Ocean, expeditions being supported by one of the Twin Otter
operators in Canada can choose to either set up camp and wait for the re-supply aircraft if
they find a suitable landing site for a Twin Otter, or to press on, on the assumption that the
re-supply aircraft will find somewhere suitable to land, within a range of one to three miles
from their position.