Cargo and Boomerangs

Antarctica Up Close

The photograph above is this post's Antarctica Up Close picture. The object in question will be revealed in its entirety and explained thoroughly at the end of this entry.

The Cargo:
From Christchurch, New Zealand to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, passengers travel aboard LC-130 military planes. C-130s are cargo planes, LC-130s are cargo planes with skis. This means they are able to land on ice as well as asphalt. True to the aircraft's title, we are nothing more than walking cargo. Walking - in that we load independently without the need of a pallet or forklift. Cargo - as there are few comforts and amenities. We sit facing one another knee to knee on long cargo mesh benches. The good thing about these fire engine red seats is that they add some color to the otherwise drab, but utilitarian interior. Ear plugs are required throughout the flight. And unless you can hold it for eight hours, you use an elevated toilet in the rear of the plane with a similarly drab shower curtain providing the necessary privacy.

Interior of the LC-130 looking toward the rear of the plane.

There are no overhead compartments lining the sides and center of the LC-130. Most of the equipment, gear, supplies, and food being transported by our flight is skidded onto the back of the plane, secured with cargo nets, and ratcheted down to the floor. Each passenger is allowed one carry-on bag. These extra bags are secured during takeoff and landing with latches like the one featured in the Antarctica Up Close photograph.

Antarctica Up Close Answer

In hindsight, my transpacific flight seems luxurious despite eating my knees for 15 hours while wedged between a mother, her toddler, the window, and the reclined passenger in front of me. I think United's new motto could be "Fly with us. Enjoy the comfort, seat cushion included!"

The Boomerang:
Ohhh the boomerang! Infamous in the Antarctic program. A common water cooler conversation for experienced veterans to share with the green detailer. It is the dreaded LC-130 U-turn. It can occur anytime between take off and Point of Safe Return (PSR). I think the name is self-explanatory, but basically PSR is the furthest point south where the LC-130 still has enough fuel to safely return to New Zealand. The boomerang means you left thinking you were headed to McMurdo only to make an about face and return to your point of origin.

Flying to Antarctica is challenging. The extreme weather conditions and distant remote locations and made even more unpredictable due to the limited weather monitoring equipment in this region. It is the flight crew's responsibility to determine whether a safe arrival in possible, if not the. They must decide to boomerang before PSR. While weather is definitely the instigator of many boomerang decisions, for us it was due to a malfunctioning navigational instrument. Four hours into our eight hour flight, the mission was aborted. After 10 hours of travel preparations and flying, we were back at the same hotel awaiting our new departure times for the following morning.

But here is the bottom line, despite the cramped, loud, inconvenient, and uncomfortable conditions, these workhorse planes and their dedicated Air National Guard crews provide a vital connection between McMurdo and the rest of the world. It may not be glamorous, but the LC-130 is perfect for such a daunting task to such an extreme location. I look forward to boarding for a second attempt tomorrow.