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An Australian A319 has performed a dramatic medevac in the middle of the Antarctic winter.
VH-VHD “Snowbird 1”, operated by Skytraders, responded to an “urgent request for assistance” at US-operated McMurdo Station late last month, taking advantage of a “narrow weather window” to perform the evacuation to New Zealand.
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“After an initial attempt was delayed by severe weather, the aircraft departed Hobart at 2:44am AEST on Friday, 31 July 2026 and landed at McMurdo Station five and a half hours later in complete darkness,” said Skytraders in a press release.
“Operating in extremely challenging conditions and temperatures as low as -43°C, the crew safely transferred the patient before departing Antarctica ahead of deteriorating conditions and landing in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday afternoon.
“This mission highlights the depth of capability developed by Skytraders through its 25-year partnership with the Australian Antarctic Division, supporting the Australian government’s scientific and emergency response operations in Antarctica.
“Through this partnership, Skytraders has built a reputation for delivering safe, reliable and mission-critical air services in one of the world’s most challenging and remote environments.”
According to the pilot, Captain Al Wallach, the mission was made possible by “years of preparation, specialist training and close coordination between flight crews, meteorologists, operational planners, runway teams and medical personnel”.
“Every Antarctic mission demands absolute precision, but winter operations raise the complexity significantly. The conditions we encountered were right on the edge of even the most specialised aircraft capability,” said Captain Wallach.
“Success in Antarctica depends on far more than the flight itself. It requires experienced crews, specialised aircraft, robust operational systems, advanced weather analysis and a team that can respond at short notice when lives depend on it.
“Very few organisations globally have the capability to conduct a winter evacuation of this nature. This mission reflects the specialist expertise of our people and the operational readiness that has been developed through years of supporting the Australian Government on Antarctic programs.
“Our focus throughout the mission was the safety of the patient and our crew. Our thoughts remain with the patient, and we wish them a full recovery.”
In a statement quoted by the ABC, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) said the patient had been admitted to Christchurch Hospital in a “serious condition”.
“NSF is grateful to [US Antarctic Program] on-station first responders who provided initial emergency medical care, as well as our Australian and New Zealand partners for their life-saving transportation support in dangerous Antarctic winter conditions,” the NSF said.
“USAP team members who keep the U.S. stations running over winter endure continuous darkness, unpredictable visibility and temperatures that can drop below -58°F in McMurdo.
“Winter medical evacuations occur infrequently and can be extremely dangerous, requiring significant skill and experience to execute successfully.”
Snowbird 1 is also employed by the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) for flights from Hobart to Wilkins Aerodrome in Antarctica.
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