Reception, planning for your event and liaison where appropriate;

Our reception at Scott Base was fine, as was on-base planning for helo weights, etc.

Availability and condition of equipment received by your event. Any work required by your party to make the equipment serviceable should be noted;

Equipment received by our event was in good working condition. The ground-sheet for one of our Polar tents was an Endura floor, but that was the only mistake.

Field training and field party equipment 'shakedown' journey (if applicable);

Two of our event members did AFT last year and so only required a refresher course, but one of them (Hicock) did not receive this training due to a mix-up. He arrived southbound at Scott Base late in the day and it was decided that he and the other new (returning) arrivals would begin their AFT refresher the next day. At 0700h the next morning however an attempt was made to fly him into the field (Allan Hills) and he missed the AFT refresher session. Poor weather in the McKay Glacier valley forced the helo to abort its mission and to return with Hicock to Scott Base where he then spent several days at Scott Base due to ongoing weather and radio-disruption delays but did not receive the training session.

Delays at Scott Base, whatever the cause.

Holme and Bornholdt were delayed three days at Scott Base before going into the field because of poor weather (snowfall and poor visibility) there. Hicock was delayed several days at Scott Base due to poor weather both at Scott Base and Allan Hills when he arrived later in the season. He was delayed in Christchurch for nine days before arriving at Scott Base due to poor weather and HF radio disruptions (due to solar flare activity).