Coronavirus Creates Problems for Researchers: They Must Take Private Flights to Antarctica – NRK Troms and Finnmark – Local News, TV and Radio

Antarctica is the only continent on earth that so far has not been affected by the coronavirus.

The Norwegian research station “Troll” works here. The station was opened by Queen Sonja in 2005 and has been used as a base throughout the year ever since.

In the summer, which lasts from November to February in the southern hemisphere, about 30 people work there. When the researchers return home, six people have to overwinter to maintain the station.

For almost nine months, the six people have been isolated from the outside world.

But this year, the planned crew change has presented challenges. Due to the crown, the closest Cape Town airport in South Africa has been closed for several months.

– Since before the summer holidays, we have worked hard to find solutions. Now most things are starting to fall into place so that we can operate the Troll station safely for the next year.

This is what the director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, Ole Arve Misund says.

The solution will be to charter a private plane that will transport the researchers from Norway to Antarctica.

– Spend up to ten million extra

– We have generally been able to fly scheduled scheduled flights to Cape Town. We then took a special plane from there to the Troll station in Antarctica, but now it’s not possible, says Misund.

The operation costs around NOK 45 million in total.

– With these additional measures from the crown, such as the rental of private jets, we will spend an extra six to ten million crowns this year to remedy the situation.

40 people are participating in the operation, including the six who will spend the winter in the station.

The private aircraft will carry personnel in three rounds. From mid-November to the end of the same month.

A ship will also be used to transport containers with goods and fuel from the ice edge on the land of Dronning Maud to the station. As with the usual crew changes.

The Polar Institute has considered using the FF research ship “Crown Prince Haakon” to transport the crew south.

– We finally discovered that it would have very negative consequences for the activity and the cruises for which the “Crown Prince Haakon” is planned, so we have given up.

– The last flight landed in Antarctica on February 20

When a crew change takes place in November, it is the first time a plane has landed on the continent since February 20 of this year. That is why the Polar Institute is paying special attention to infection control.

– If you get an infection there, you must evacuate the entire station. Then it will be difficult to imagine that we will be able to carry out the social mission of having year-round operation at the station, says Misund.

Everyone who will be traveling in connection with the change must be quarantined at Oslo Airport for 14 days prior to departure. During scheduled stopovers, none of the passengers will be able to leave the plane.

– We have to do everything possible to ensure that our crews do not come into contact with covid-19 and bring the virus to the Troll station. Therefore, we must have special considerations in infection control.