First flight to ice for Air Force’s new C-130J Hercules

Monday’s flight, by NZ7011, carried cargo to the ice that will support the New Zealand and United States scientific research programmes at Scott Base and McMurdo Station.

The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Tristan Nysse, says being the first to fly a new C-130J to Antarctica was a rewarding experience.

“We are just a small team at the C-130J Transition Unit so having completed our first flight to the ice is not only a success for the aircrew. It’s also the maintenance crews and everyone involved in the C-130J delivery who have put in a massive effort to make this possible. 

“Putting into practice all the knowledge we have been building about the aircraft and taking it to the most extreme environment it has been to so far with the RNZAF is incredibly fulfilling,” he said.

Flight Lieutenant Nysse has flown to Antarctica 11 times since he joined No. 40 Squadron seven years ago, all in the retiring C-130H.

He said the C-130J flies similarly to the H model.

“It has a lot of systems working to help you out and make some things easier, but also brings with it a lot more to monitor.

“It is a bit like getting out of an old manual truck and into a new SUV with all the bells and whistles.

“It’s nice having the extra power of the new engines and more advanced electronic planning systems which makes preparing for our tasks much faster and simpler,” Flight Lieutenant Nysse said.

Operation Antarctica is one of the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) largest summer deployments, and one of the NZDF’s most enduring missions: it has been contributing personnel to work on the icy continent since the 1950s.

The C-130J is scheduled to make six trips this summer season carrying a mix of passengers and cargo.

Senior National Officer Major Lucy Wright, who manages NZDF’s deployment to Antarctica, says the first flight with the C-130J is a significant milestone in the introduction of new capability in support of the Joint Logistics Pool.

“The C-130H has been a reliable workhorse for the Antarctic programmes for close to 60 years and everyone is very excited to have the new C-130J continue to provide that support.”

The NZDF typically deploys around 140 personnel each year to Antarctica. This includes a team based at Harewood Terminal in Christchurch, who are responsible for moving passengers and cargo on a variety of flights operated by the RNZAF and the United States Air Force.

The RNZAF took delivery of the first C-130J in September this year and the fifth aircraft in the fleet is due to arrive next month.