C-17 Makes First Antarctic Night Landing Using NVG

A C-17 from McChord AFB made the first known after-dark landing in Antarctica using night vision goggles on September 11th. The Globemaster III landed at night on the Pegusus Ice Runway near McMurdo Station in a mission that was flown as part of Operation Deep Freeze. This long standing mission airlifts critical supplies to the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program that operates at McMurdo. Typically these supplies can only be delivered during the Antarctic Summer months due to long night hours in the Winter and limited airfield lighting. With this successful test operation, the Air Force now has the ability to airlift supplies or medevac personnel out of McMurdo year round. The new procedure uses reflective cones to outline the edges of the ice runway. When the C-17's lights reflect off the cones, it is easily picked up in the night vision goggles used by the flight crew. Commander of the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Lt. Col. Jim McGann said, "We found the cones to be very good at illuminating the runway and providing critical situational awareness." The real beauty of this system is that the markers require no electrical power at all.

Here is one of the reflective cones used at the Pegasus Ice Runway.

A C-17 Globemaster III sits on the Pegasus Ice Runway after a successful night landing.

[Photos: U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Chris Vadnais]
[AF Link]

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