It's one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on Earth – but even in Antarctica, aviation is still a vital connection for those living on research stations across the frozen continent.
Skytraders has worked with the Australian Antarctic Division for almost a quarter of a century to provide aviation support and logistics to scientific missions in often challenging conditions, far from the nearest airport.
In July, the airline carried out a rare midwinter mission to McMurdo Station, in pitch darkness and temperatures as low as −43°C, to evacuate a medical patient to Christchurch – a mission which succeeded thanks to the skill and experience of the pilots and their supporting teams.
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Skytraders pilots Dan Colborne and Louise Robertson share their tales of flying to Antarctica – the highs, the lows, and the challenges of operating in the isolated southernmost reaches of the planet.