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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2000-01: VUWAE 45
6) FIELD TRANSPORT (Helicopter Operation)
6) FIELD TRANSPORT (Helicopter Operation)
For this season's drilling operations we constructed two 3.2 m long skid mounted "flying boxes" one, to carry the Winkie Drill and drilling equipment and the other to fit and operate the air compressor system. The boxes were primarily designed as underslung loads for the Bell 212 helicopters and were partly streamlined and built with a four point lift. The boxes were built as lightly as possible with tubular duragalv steel framing and plywood cladding. The tare weight of each box was about 300 kg including 2 side mounted drill deck units.
Equipment was consigned in the boxes and flown to Antarctica but required a double marriage pallet because of the overhang length of 0.8 m in excess of the single 8' long aircraft pallet. The flying boxes were repacked to reduce the weight to 1800–1900 lb for helicopter sling loads. The boxes did not fly as well as we hoped and a tail fin were constructed at Scott Base and fitted in the field adding a further 40 lb to the box weight.
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The boxes still did not fly well and this in part may be due to the PHI steel cable pendant where the swivel may not work properly with loads of 1800 lb.
| i. | Cargo consignment to Antarctica. |
| ii. | Enables the heating/start up and operation of the compressor in a controlled temperature environment. |
| iii. | Rapid packup and deployment of equipment. |
| iv. | Confinement and protection of equipment from burial in snow. |
In addition to the 2 large flying boxes which were each under slung, we required a third underslung load for drilling equipment/fuel and one Bell 212 internal load of equipment. An additional two Bell 212 internal loads were required for personnel (up to 6) and camp which included 3 folding Polar tents and the 12' by 8' Polar Haven with soft floor.
Most of the smaller drilling equipment was packaged in plastic space cases and consigned from New Zealand on pallets. These cases are designed to fit ISO pallet dimensions (1.10 × 1.10 m) and two 1.1m long boxes fit across the back cabin area of the Bell 212. Drilling equipment is usually heavy and it is all to easy to over fill these versatile boxes which makes it harder to pack the helicopter especially if only the pilot and copilot are doing a remote pickup; (sorry HNZ). The boxes provide secure storage of equipment in the field and contribute to an efficient drilling operation.