RuAviation

On 20 October the 69th Russian Antarctic Expedition departed St. Petersburg onboard the research vessel Akademik Fedorov. The participants of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) consisting of more than 650 specialists, including scientific and technical personnel, scientists, builders, crews of air and sea vessels left for Antarctica to continue their work on the southern continent. This was disclosed to AARI.

One of the tasks of the expedition, in addition to scientific research, is to complete construction and installation works at the new wintering complex Vostok. The technological launch of the three modules will take place in January 2024. It is necessary to deliver almost 2,600 tonnes of cargo to Vostok station, these are construction materials and fuel. The builders of the new wintering complex Vostok will start arriving at Progress station at the end of October by IL-76TD-90VD aircraft from Cape Town and then will depart to Vostok station with the first sledge-caterpillar traverse. Up to eight Il-76TD-90VD aircraft, An-2 laboratory aircraft and Ka-32 helicopters will be used for aviation support of the Antarctic expedition.

The IL-76TD-90VD transport aircraft will provide the air route from Cape Town to the landing sites at Novolazarevskaya and Progress stations. The aircraft will serve not only Russian stations, but also stations of 11 other countries within the framework of the Dromlan international aviation programme. The heavy transport vehicle will help to increase the traditional duration of the seasonal cycle of operations in Antarctica by more than a month.

An-2 based at Mirny station will perform an airborne geophysical survey in the northeastern part of the Princess Elisabeth Land. Four Ka-32S helicopters fromboard the research ships Akademik Fedorov and Akademik Tryoshnikov will perform cargo and personnel transportation and flights under the scientific programme. Additionally, intracontinental transportations will be carried out by the Basler aircraft.

The complex of scientific studies of the expedition will include monitoring of practically all components of the Antarctic environment and study of the global climate change processes. Drilling of ancient ice above the subglacial Lake Vostok will be continued. Within the framework of international co-operation, joint work will be carried out with scientists from China and Belarus.