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Antarctic Medical Evacuation UnderwayThe United States Antarctic Program (USAP), managed by the National Science Foundation, is planning a medical evacuation of a U.S. civilian employee with acute appendicitis from McMurdo Station. Through coordination with New Zealand Defense Forces Air Staff, a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 will fly the mission. The plane is expected to depart Christchurch, New Zealand at 10 a.m. (local time) on August 12, with a New Zealand medical team aboard. The team is expected to return with the patient in the early hours of August 13. Currently, McMurdo Station--located at the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica--is in winter operations mode with 166 staff. Though there is a twilight period, the sun has yet to rise marking the end of winter, and the temperature is minus 13 degrees F. The first pre-season flights were not scheduled for another week. Normally, the U.S. Air Force provides the logistical support for the USAP, but polar-qualified U.S. aircrews are not available in the area. To wait for a U.S. crew and aircraft would delay the mission several days. For more information contact: Beth Gaston, (703) 306-1070/egaston@nsf.gov
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