A-319 in Antartica

[Highkeas]

From today's AIAA newsletter:

Reuters (8/9) reports in order to evacuate an American because of a medical emergency, an Airbus A319 has been sent to Antarctica where it has landed on an ice runway, which the article describes as the most dangerous part of the mission.

I'm surprised that an A-319 was selected for this mission rather than a C-130.

[Peter Kesternich]

Not really news. A319s have been used to ice runways in Antarctica for quite some time.

[CcrlR]

I noticed they had a A319 do the job. I checked the forums and saw the only A319LR they have. I guess they need the extra long range for roundtrip missions without shutting the aircraft down.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.p...7402458&nseq=0

[Peter Kesternich]

Well, the aircraft has to be able to make the roundtrip without refuelling, in case they can't land in Antarctica.

[SYDCBRWOD]

This aircraft is chartered by ANARE (Aust National Antarctic Research Establishment) on a seasonal basis making roughly weekly trips over the summer months to a runway a few k's from an Aussie base.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkins_Runway