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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1991-92: VUWAE 36

6. Field Transport

6. Field Transport

ia)NZARP Vehicles. D5 Bulldozer. This vehicle performed reliably in the field with no major problems. A small glycol leak developed in cab heater but this seems to occur each season. A normal maintenance schedule was carried out in the field.
ib)US Vehicles. A Nodwell tracked vehicle with Hiab crane was made available by NSF to this project. The vehicle was checked before departing Scott base and rechecked before return to McMurdo. No significant problems occurred with this vehicle and a small hydraulic leak in the auger circuit was present the entire time that we had use of the vehicle. A normal maintenance schedule was carried out during the field period.
ii)Bombardier Alpine II skidoos. Two vehicles with two VUW boxsledges were used by this programme for reconaissance; surveying and movement of small equipment. The skidoos were sledged most of the way to Cape Roberts on the larger "Italians" Maudheim sledge. The skidoos were used mostly in Granite Harbour and on the return journey to Blue Glacier and Scott Base. Most of the travel was on snow covered sea ice except the bare sea ice around the Mackay Glacier Tongue and South of the Stranded Moraines. Two problems occurred with the running gear of the skidoos. On one machine the steering rod-ski connection sheared at the ski and on the other machine a set of idler wheels became disconnected. Both these problems have occurred on the same model machines used at McMurdo. Travelling on sea ice especially when there is little snow cover is naturally hard on the running gear of skidoos and this type of occasional breakage should be anticipated if the running gear is not strengthened in subsequent models.
(ii)Aircraft operations. Helicopter sea ice reconaissance. One person in our event (A. Pyne) was manifested on a RNZAF opportunity helo to determine the best sea ice route to Cape Roberts and accessible ROV sites around the MacKay Glacier. This operation was page break very successful and invaluable when we had to find an alternative route near Cape Bernaccahi on our return south. It was unfortunate that other members of the event could not participate on this flight because of USAP helicopter problems at this time. In future we would try to have our event personnel on this flight to help them familiarise themselves with the proposed route and other features.