Last Dash North

I cannot believe the summer season is nearly over. Saturday 11th March saw all 3 twin otters leave Rothera heading for Calgary on their way home, each one with a pilot and co-pilot which meant 6 less for dinner that evening. They all went very early in the morning due to the weather coming in and preventing them from going anywhere later in the day.

I was sorry to see them go, they were my work colleagues and had been my companions and friends for nearly six months. There were a few of us standing outside Admirals to wave them off, only the Dash to go now and that was to be the following Monday.  

 Vicky takes off with Jen as co-pilot

 One last wave as she takes to the sky

 She tips her wing as if to wave

 On her way, next stop Punta Arenas

 Next to go is Al Howland, who takes off, goes round

 and comes back along the runway to do a flyby

 Al tips his wings right and left to wave at us

 Then off into the distance

 The skies look grey as the Otter climbs into the clouds

 With all 3 Otters now off base, the fire cover can

stand down

And so can the cover boat out in North bay

The Last Dash North

It's Monday morning and the only passenger due out with the Dash is Reid, our weather forecaster. With no planes on station and no more planes on Antarctica due to come through Rothera, there is no need for a forecaster so Reid is out on the last Dash heading back to the UK where he will return to the MET office. Reid heads out with two pilots and an air mechanic as they take the Dash back to Calgary in Canada. This means 4 less on base, leaving us with 65 until the ship arrives in April, where 43 will be leaving us.

 We go out to wave the Dash off

She starts her engines and waits while all checks are 

being done

 With the all clear given she starts to moves off

 She turns to face us and makes her way down to the

south end of the runway

They taxi into position and turn into the wind

waiting for ops to give the word

 Rescue boat in place at the north end of the runway

 The engines start to roar as they start their run

 We are all at the side of the runway to wave goodbye

 Some stand on top of the containers for a better view

Full throttle as she increases speed

 She starts to lift as everyone waves 

 I love the colour of the planes against the ice cliffs

As she cruises effortlessly into the sky

 We watch in silence as the last plane goes north for

 the last time this season

 It feels strange as she gets smaller on her way to Punta

Goodbye guys, see you next season

With the plane gone the boat can now return to base.

 So among the people that have now gone home, is the Station Leader, the Field operations manager and some very strong characters who have just finished their winter and will be missed. It will be interesting to see how the dynamics change without them being here. Roll on my winter!