SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 – The New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing wrapped up its 2024 support for National Science Foundation research in Greenland at the end of August.
Throughout the season, which began in April, the 109th Airlift Wing’s Airmen conducted essential airlift missions to support scientific research on the Greenland ice cap.
The 109th Airlift Wing flies the LC-130. These are the largest aircraft in the world equipped with skis so they can land on snow and ice. These are also the only ski-equipped aircraft flown by the U.S. military.
The unit’s primary responsibilities included transporting personnel, equipment and supplies to remote locations.
These included Summit Station, a research station near the apex of the Greenland ice sheet, and East Grip, a science camp that drills and retrieves ice cores from the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream.
Supplies to rebuild Summit Station, manned year-round for critical weather information and climate research, were carried to the station by 109th aircraft.
The wing’s Airmen flew over 500 hours and transported 1.8 million pounds of cargo, 70,000 gallons of fuel and 1,200 passengers supporting Arctic operations.
Their efforts ensured the uninterrupted flow of supplies and personnel crucial to maintaining operations and conducting research in one of the world’s most challenging environments.
“Each year, our aircrews and support staff demonstrate exceptional skill and resilience in these demanding conditions,” said Col. Rob Donaldson, the commander of the 109th Airlift Wing. “The successful completion of this season underscores the dedication of our personnel in supporting the aims of the great power competition at large, and specifically, our mission in supporting U.S. interests in the Arctic.”
The end of the Greenland support season also signifies the beginning of preparations for the next operational cycle.
The 109th Airlift Wing will now focus on preparing for the annual Operation Deep Freeze support season, supplying U.S. scientific facilities in Antarctica.
The wing’s support season for the Antarctic mission begins in October and ends in February.
By Jaclyn Lyons
New York National Guard