Working hard at PEA

27 pictures posted on the 31.01.2012

Last year, we had good luck with the ice, this season, the Mary Arctica has been blocked eight days in such a sea.

Last year, we had good luck with the ice, this season, the Mary Arctica has been blocked eight days in such a sea.

© IPF - Alain Hubert

  • The Mary Arctica arrived at Crown Bay with a week delay. She brought two helicopters for the german researchers.
  • Despite the delay of the Mary Arcica caught in the ice for a week, the unloading operation unfolded without hindrance.
  • At Crown Bay, the landscape of the iceshelf is always an amazing one -no matter the weather.
  • The convoy of our four Prinoth tractors on their way back from Crown Bay. Note the amount of containers on the sledges.
  • Last year, we had good luck with the ice, this season, the Mary Arctica has been blocked eight days in such a sea.
  • Both pilots, Florian and John, are well experienced and mega trained helicopter pilots.
  • Arrival of the convoy at the PEA coming from Crown Bay. Everyone even the researchers give a hand to unload the containers.
  • One of the important task of this 2011-12 BELARE season was to replace the 192 batteries which store the energy produced by the solar panels and windmills.
  • These new batteries will enhance the energy storage capacity of the station. Here, Eric cabling the new batteries.
  • The crane we use at the station could take 8 batteries at a time. The replacement of the batteries took 5 hours.
  • Jacques at work : he is finishing the making of the hooks for the dormitory container for the Germans.
  • Illir at work to finish preparing the mobile unit for the AWI's german researchers.
  • Here, we are installing a repeater antenna on a Nunatak located at 60 km from the PEA. It will be used fur our VHF comnunications.
  • Arrival at PEA with helicopter after having installed a repeater antenna on Romnoes Nunatak at 60 km from the base.
  • Blue ice field is unique here in Antarctica and the light so unexpected.
  • The convoy which has been to Crown Bay to unload the Mary Arctica is arriving from Crown Bay.
  • Our heliport is located just in front of the station and protected from the main winds.
  • The brand new 'Basler 6' -fullly equiped for polar research- belonging to the Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven. Arrival of the German scientifics.
  • Making a rescue exercice with an helicopter near the PEA.
  • A windscoop encountered by the Germans during a geological survey.
  • Landing on top of an iceberg.
  • Refuelling at base camp during a reconnaissance flight along the coast to the East.
  • Mono-turbine helicopter -a quite powerfull machine, piloted by Knut, a 13 000 hours pilot.
  • Sastrugis (this word is from russian origin) come often in the conversation of the polar people who use to travel in the Antarctic. Here are some...
  • Outcrops along a glacier located at 150 km West of PEA.
  • Coming back from an excursion near the Vikinghoda mountain.
  • After seeing such an landscape, one does not have anymore to wonder why the Antarctic is such a fasinating continent.