Team McChord kicks off ODF main season

by Staff Sgt. Sean Tobin
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/5/2012 - CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand -- Airmen from 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings, kicked off their participation in the 2012-2013 Operation Deep Freeze main season, transporting National Science Foundation cargo and personnel to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Oct. 1.

Deployed as the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., they departed Christchurch International Airport in a McChord Field C-17 Globemaster III aircraft with 76 passengers and 64,000 pounds of cargo onboard, bound for the icy continent.

ODF is a joint service operation in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program and provides logistical support for the NSF's scientific research in Antarctica.

Providing C-17 airlift support, the crews from McChord Field use Christchurch International Airport as a staging point for forward deployment to McMurdo Station.

"This is the best mission I've ever been part of," said Lt. Col. Brent Keenan, 304th EAS commander, to a New Zealand news crew just prior to take off. "Everyone is excited, the weather is cooperating and we've got the best people for the mission."

After the 5-hour flight south to the remote Antarctic station, the C-17 touched down on the seasonal sea ice runway, a runway carved into a 100-inch layer of frozen ocean, just off of Ross Island, Antarctica.

With the aircraft engines still running, crews unloaded the cargo and loaded an additional 10,000 pounds of cargo to be taken out of McMurdo.

Because of the extreme cold, engines were kept running to help prevent the fuel from freezing and turning into gel.

ODF is unlike any other U.S. military operations and presents many other unique challenges.

"Basically, you're landing on a floating runway," said Lt. Col. Jason Taylor, a 304th EAS pilot deployed from the 728th AS. "If you smack down hard on it like a paved runway, it can create waves in the ice and crack."

Other runways exist in the continental ice, however those are farther away from McMurdo and require much longer distances travelled to and from the aircraft. During this time of year, ODF personnel take advantage of the thick layer of sea ice that exists just off the station.

A total of 48 missions are scheduled for this season of ODF, which should be completed in March 2013.