A US expeditioner has been evacuated from Antarctica in a rare midwinter medical rescue carried out under extreme cold, darkness and deteriorating weather conditions.

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), working with aviation company Skytraders, launched the emergency evacuation at the request of the US Antarctic Program. The mission began after Australian authorities received an urgent request for medical assistance from McMurdo Station, a major US research facility in Antarctica.

An Airbus A319 operated by Skytraders departed Hobart, Australia, in the early hours of July 31 carrying medical and specialist personnel from the AAD and the Centre for Antarctic, Remote and Maritime Medicine.

About five hours later, the aircraft reached McMurdo Station in complete darkness. Temperatures had fallen as low as -43 degrees Celsius (-45.4 degrees Fahrenheit), while weather conditions were continuing to deteriorate.

The patient was transferred onto the aircraft before the plane departed Antarctica and flew to Christchurch, New Zealand, where the expeditioner was taken for further medical treatment.

Authorities have not released the patient’s identity or medical condition. Skytraders said the person was recovering well, while the Australian Antarctic Division confirmed that the patient was receiving treatment in Christchurch.

A mission conducted in near-total darkness

Winter flights to Antarctica are significantly more difficult than operations during the continent’s summer season. During the Antarctic winter, large areas experience prolonged periods of darkness, while extremely low temperatures and rapidly changing weather can make aviation particularly challenging.

Captain Al Wallach, the pilot of the evacuation flight, said the operation required extensive preparation and coordination between pilots, meteorologists, medical personnel, runway teams and operational planners.

The Australian Antarctic Division described the mission as a complex operation conducted in the depths of the Antarctic winter, highlighting the importance of international cooperation between Antarctic research programs.

Skytraders has extensive experience conducting medical evacuations in Antarctica. The company says its Airbus A319 aircraft can be configured for aeromedical missions and has previously supported emergency evacuations involving Antarctic programs from several countries, including the United States.

Why winter evacuations are so difficult

Landing at an Antarctic research station during winter requires careful preparation because runways can consist of compacted snow or ice and must be maintained to specific standards.

Flight crews must also account for extreme temperatures, runway conditions, limited visibility and rapidly changing weather. The Australian Antarctic Program says its A319 aircraft has a medical-evacuation capability and is designed for long-range operations between Australia and Antarctica.

Skytraders said the crew must prepare for scenarios including worsening weather, problems with runway lighting or power and the possibility of having to turn back without landing. Extra fuel and detailed weather calculations can therefore be critical during an emergency flight.

The successful evacuation was also dependent on close coordination between teams in different countries. Meteorologists monitored conditions while flight crews, medical specialists and personnel at McMurdo prepared for the patient’s transfer.

A history of Antarctic medical cooperation

The latest evacuation is not the first time Australia has assisted the US Antarctic Program with a medical emergency.

In March 2020, the Australian Antarctic Division dispatched an Airbus A319 and medical team to McMurdo after receiving an emergency request from the US Antarctic Program. The patient was subsequently flown to Christchurch for treatment.

Skytraders also says it has conducted one of the earliest midwinter medical evacuations from Eastern Antarctica, demonstrating the specialized aviation capability required to operate in the region during the darkest and coldest months.

For the latest mission, the aircraft reached McMurdo, transferred the patient and departed before deteriorating conditions made the operation more difficult.

The Australian Antarctic Division said the evacuation demonstrated the capabilities of its personnel and the importance of cooperation between Antarctic programs around the world.

sources: Australian Antarctic Division — US expeditioner retrieved from Antarctica in challenging midwinter rescue