**Location and Date:**
Christchurch, New Zealand – March 7, 2025.
**Overview of Operations:**
The last U.S. Air Force transport aircraft returned home after a summer dedicated to frequent flights to Antarctica in support of the National Science Foundation’s operations. This season was significant for two primary reasons.
**Aircraft Utilization:**
1. The Air Force deployed a new aircraft platform alongside the usual Lockheed Martin LC-130H Hercules and Boeing C-17A Globemaster III.
2. Lt. Col. Jack Smith, Commander of the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, highlighted the use of C-130Hs from the Nevada Air National Guard which conducted about ten missions to Antarctica. He noted the advantages of C-130s during the C-17 “gap season” from December 5 to late January when the C-17s are inoperable due to runway conditions.
**Comparison of Aircraft:**
– The C-130H is cheaper to operate than the C-17, consuming less fuel and being more efficient than the LC-130, which is the largest ski-equipped aircraft but suffers from reduced aerodynamics when utilizing skis, leading to a 25% increase in fuel consumption.
**Operation Deep Freeze Update:**
This summer marked efforts to rebuild a pier at McMurdo Station, essential for unloading ship cargo. The C-17s transported heavy equipment including cranes and drilling rigs for Navy Seabees handling the pier reconstruction, which had been previously damaged.
**Challenges Faced:**
Air Force missions dealt with extreme weather conditions that could change rapidly, resulting in “boomerang” flights where aircraft would have to return to Christchurch before reaching McMurdo. Lt. Col. Smith illustrated the operations involved in determining safe return points based on forecasting challenges.
**Summer Flight Operations:**
The summer season lasts from October to early March, with the LC-130s operating throughout this period for intra-theater airlift between various Antarctic stations. The C-17s primarily shuttle between Christchurch and McMurdo, with an average mission time of 16-18 hours, including a typical crew of four pilots and four loadmasters.
**Operational Statistics:**
In late 2024 and early 2025, C-17s conducted 24 missions in October-November and eight more in the early months of the following year, with operations peaking at 5-8 flights per week, including C-130 runs.
**Personnel Management:**
Smith commanding 38 personnel comprised experienced instructor pilots and loadmasters, making these missions both a training ground and a reward for top performers within the Air Force.
**Aircraft Replacement:**
The aging LC-130H fleet will likely see a replacement based on the C-130J model, although current restrictions prevent regular C-130Js from flying to Antarctica due to the absence of wing fuel tanks.
**Conclusion:**
Despite evolving military priorities, the Pentagon’s commitment to Operation Deep Freeze remains steadfast, underscoring the critical logistical role of the Air Force in providing essential supplies to Antarctic scientists, as demonstrated by a recent emergency medical evacuation carried out by a C-17.
**Reporter Background:**
Gordon Arthur is an Asia correspondent for Defense News, with extensive experience in the Asia-Pacific region and a current residency in New Zealand.
