Peter I DXpedition - Status Report and Summary
This summary was prepared by DXpedition co-leaders Ralph KØIR
and Bob K4UEE in an effort to update our contributors, friends and the
DX community on the status of our DXpedition.
Webmaster note: If you'd like to see this information
in Polish, Team Member Robert SP5XVY has graciously provided a translation;
click HERE.
Our ship and helicopter company is DAP. This company has been the premier
source of air support to the Antarctic for the last 24 years. DAP has
worked with The National Science Foundation, The International Association
of Antarctic Tour Operators, private expeditions, and has been the leader
in medical evacuation from the Antarctic. They have an excellent reputation,
operate a fleet of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft, and a research/supply
vessel. We will use their ship and one of their helicopters.
DAP will fly us from Punta Arenas to their Antarctic base on King George
Island on February 2nd. The flight will be in a DeHavelin DASH-7, a four-engine
turboprop that can carry up to 44 passengers. After a tour of the nearby
bases, including Bellingshausen (R1ANF), we will board our ship and sail
for Peter I the same day.
Peter I arrival is scheduled for approximately February 6th. Weather
and ice will dictate when we actually land. Ice floes around the island
are in constant flux and will dictate our approach to the island, the
distance the vessel must hold offshore and the duration of helicopter
flights.
Team Antarctic/Arctic experience:
KØIR -- Four previous Antarctic DXpeditons: VP8SSI/VP8CBA, 3YØPI,
VKØIR and VP8THU/VP8GEO.
K4UEE -- Two previous Antarctic DXpeditions: VKØIR and VP8THU/VP8GEO.
WØRUN - Two previous tours of duty with the South African Antarctic
Expedition. One tour included a full season in Antarctica.
F2JD -- Previous tours of duty with the French Arctic and Antarctic Expedition.
Arctic and Antarctic experience. Involved with safety operations at the
French base on Kerguelen.
LA6VM -- Extensive experience in Arctic and North Sea oil exploration.
Very knowledgeable regarding safety, rigging, vessel inspection.
K3VN - Previous Antarctic tours with the National Science Foundation
aboard the RV Hero.
Medical:
Two Medical Doctors are on the team, K9SG and KØIR. K9SG will be
the chief medical officer.
Ship and Flight Crew:
The ship's captain and crew have substantial Antarctic and ice experience.
The helicopter pilots (2) have Antarctic flight experience (over 1,000
hours) and are experienced in sling load operations. We have arranged
for a helicopter mechanic and supervisor mechanic to add to the flight
crew. The vessel will carry an extensive inventory of helicopter spare
parts.
Helicopter: The helicopter is a Eurocopter BO-105. This is a twin turbine
engine aircraft that is widely used in the Antarctic and for medical evacuation
operations. The aircraft has complete redundancy of its hydraulic, electrical,
and navigational systems. The aircraft can stay aloft with one engine
out. Its useful load is 1,000 KGm
Shelters:
The team will utilize time-tested polar shelters (WeatherHaven). The same
shelters have been used on Peter I and on Heard Island. For safety reasons
only the operating and mess shelters will be heated.
Advance planning:
This has been very extensive from safety, landing, set-up, environmental
issues, radio operation, camp issues, and waste management. The team has
practiced putting up shelters, has become familiar with its inventory
of equipment, has attended classroom lectures on safety, emergency medical
procedures, and radio operations. Radio operators have been surveyed to
assess their skill sets.
Permissions:
Peter I lies in the Antarctic Treaty areas. We have submitted our environmental
and safety plan to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and
received confirmation that we have met all their requirements. The US
State Department has indicated they have all the necessary documentation
from us and have signed-off on our expedition. The National Science Foundation
has approved our waste management plan and issued the expedition a Waste
Management Permit. Norway has issued us an amateur radio license to operate
from Peter I as 3YØX. The ship, operated by DAP,
has met the requirements of the Chilean Antarctic authority, INACH.
Expected weather conditions ashore:
Temperatures will vary from a few degrees above to a few degrees below
freezing. Winds can be substantial --- 70+ mph at times. Visibility can
fall to 0/0. Occasional blowing and drifting snow accompanies winds. To
contend with low visibility situations, safety lines will run between
camp structures, a buddy system will be in place, and members will always
carry personal radios. KØIR spent 22 days on Peter I in 1994 and
is very familiar with the island weather and conditions. Clear, quiet
days are rare but absolutely fantastic.
Landing:
The only safe and feasible landing is via helicopter. Our site will be
on a very flat, safe plateau of approximately 1.5 by 2 miles square. The
island is approximately 8 by 15 miles in size.
Personal Space:
Crowded but adequate. Everyone has a cot. Everyone will supply his own
sleeping bag, pad, and pillow case. There will be a common area for eating.
Hot food and liquids will be available 24/7.
Personalities:
To assure compatibility and "team players," the team leaders,
K4UEE and KØIR, personally interviewed each prospective team member
and required two character references regarding judgment, temperament,
tolerance of stress, and the ability to get along well with others in
close quarters.
Radio Info:
We have nine complete ICOM Pro III / Alpha 99 HF stations plus multiple
antennas. There will be two operating sites separated by approximately
1,000 feet to allow operation on SSB and CW/digital on the same band at
the same time. We will also be QRV on 6m, 2m and 70cm EME if we can keep
the antennas up! Scheduling will be in three-hour blocks of operation
during the day and a single six-hour shift at night. Individuals may operate
a single mode or multiple modes if they desire. Schedules will be prepared
well in advance, at least 24 hours. We will schedule around, and pay particular
attention to, propagation. We want to maximize our QSO totals but also
want to give everyone a full and enjoyable experience. Operator preferences
will be considered as much as possible. KØIR will be preparing
the operating schedules. Propagation will guide our operating.
Food:
Menus have been prepared in advance. In addition to meals there will always
be something hot in a crock pot. There will be plenty of hot and cold
liquids. We have a gas grill to prepare hot food in large quantities.
Technology envelope:
We will have online logs PLUS upload photos from Peter I on a regular
basis. Hopefully we will also be able to upload short video clips to our
website for our radio audience back home. We want to involve the entire
amateur community and have them "experience" this adventure
as much as possible. Please understand that local weather and camp chores
could interfere with our ability to do some or all of this. However we
have good people on the team who are dedicated to make this happen.
Governance:
The team leaders are Bob K4UEE and Ralph KØIR. We welcome input
from everyone in the decision-making process. Final decisions will be
made by the team leaders. The ship's captain and the helicopter pilot
have absolute authority regarding safety and operations in their respective
areas, but will consult with the team leaders.
Ship Amenities:
Team members have full access to the ship and are welcome on the bridge
if they do not interfere with normal operations. The ship is providing
a 20 by 40 foot sea container that will be outfitted as our maritime mobile
operating site and we will have two complete stations. We have permission
to mount antennas on the ship. Rooms on the ship hold from two to four
people; each room has a bathroom. The ship will remain offshore during
our entire stay on the island.
Surface conditions on the island:
Pristine! It's almost impossible to get dirty. We can expect an inch of
somewhat loose snow on the surface. The snow/ice becomes progressively
denser with depth and is near solid ice at about two feet down. There
is no wildlife in our camp area --- hence, no smell of excrement, guano
to get on your boots and in shelters, and no angry seals chasing you about.
Icebergs will continually drift past the island along with pack ice floes.
Time at the island:
We will have sixteen days AT the Island. Weather will dictate when we
land and will influence our departure date. Time ashore and operating
time is weather dependent. We could have to wait offshore for a day or
so while weather clears, etc. We have the option of purchasing extra days
IF our finances allow. At the moment, we do not have the funds to purchase
additional days.
Hardware:
Seven generators - total capacity 35KW.,s Two sleep shelters. One MEG
(meeting, eating, greeting) shelter. Two operating shelters, nominally
SSB and CW. Heat for op shelters, the MEG, and cooking is from propane.
The generators are gasoline powered. Safety lines will be in place.
Equipment:
Our 40 ft Sea Container, with 11 tons (22,000 lbs.) inside has arrived
in Chile and will be loaded aboard the vessel prior to yeayear-end.
Other interesting people:
Mr. Charles Veley will accompany us. He is the World's Most Traveled Man
but has yet to visit Peter I. Our photographer, Robert Russell is a professional
who has done work for National Geographic. Our team owns the license to
all photos and videos. Team members are encouraged to bring whatever photographic
equipment they wish.
Waivers, etc.:
All of us have signed a participant's agreement and waivers of liability.
We have also signed releases allowing the photographs or videos which
include our image to be used in video productions, etc. Everyone has completed
a medical history form and submitted it to our team doctor, Gary K9SG.
Everyone has completed an operator survey form indicating his skill-sets
and operating preferences. Everyone applying for team membership has had
a telephone interview with one or both team leaders, submitted a photograph
and a short biographical sketch. We have one team member slot left.
Web Site:
We maintain a public website which we encourage you to examine in detail:
www.peterone.com. Team members have a private, members-only area that
posts team information. The team has an e-mail reflector for exchange
of information.
QSL information:
There will be a beautiful double fold, six-sided souvenir QSL card available.
QSL via N2OO.
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