China’s Antarctic expedition joins medevac operation to get ill Australian home

Two ice runways are being built to allow planes to land at Australia’s Davis station and fly the patient out

Australian-Chinese-American cooperation is in contrast to global geopolitics in which Beijing is at odds with Canberra and Washington

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A Chinese helicopter lands at Davis research station as part of the medevac operation. Photo: Dan Dyer

Published: 3:44pm, 22 Dec 2020Updated: 11:11pm, 22 Dec 2020

A complex international operation in Antarctica is under way to medevac an Australian expeditioner with help from China and the United States.

The Australian Antarctic Programme said on Monday that two separate ice runways were being built as part of a complex operation to transfer the patient from Australia’s Davis research station in the Antarctic back home to Australia. The patient has a medical condition not related to Covid-19.

The Australian is based at Davis research station. Photo: AAD

Kim Ellis, the Australian Antarctic division director, said the medical evacuation process relied on aviation support from the Chinese and US Antarctic programmes. Australia does not have its own intracontinental aviation this southern summer – in Antarctica summer is October to March – because of fears of spreading Covid-19 to the icy continent.

“This operation is a testament to the strong international cooperation that exists in Antarctica, where nations band together and support each other in what can be a hostile and challenging environment,” Ellis said. “We are really pleased this first stage of this multi-phased operation, involving helicopters, planes and ships, is under way.”

Personnel in the Antarctic will take three to five days to build one runway on the ice plateau behind Davis station, according to the Australian Antarctic Programme.

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