18 Italian soldiers of the Armed Forces take part in the 2021-22 summer campaign which will last 4 months. The mission will see the participation of 220 technicians and researchers in the field, engaged in over 50 research projects at the “Mario Zucchelli” and “Concordia” stations, on the Italian oceanographic research ship “Laura Bassi” and at some foreign bases.
In particular, the Italian Air Force contributes to the expedition with a C-130J transport aircraft of the 46th Air Brigade, with crews trained to operate in extreme climatic and environmental conditions (in this specific case on icy runways – landing on the pack), which will carry out the connections between Christchurch (New Zealand), the Italian MZS base and the US base in McMurdo, ensuring the transport of passengers and materials according to the needs represented by ENEA.
40 soldiers from the 46th Airborne Brigade based in Christchurch will be employed to support this operation.
The Italian Armed Force also participates with two Meteorological Officers. The participation of AM weather forecasters in expeditions to Antarctica has been a consolidated tradition since 1986. The weather personnel of the Italian Air Force is called upon to play an extremely delicate role. Weather forecasts often play a decisive role in the effective planning of the multiple activities involving both the Italian Mario Zucchelli base and the Italian-French Concordia base, located on the Antarctic plateau at 3320 meters above sea level. In fact, meteorological forecasts guarantee the safe conduct of air operations dedicated to the transport of scientific personnel as well as naval operations and plateau crossings that allow the Concordia base to be supplied for the winter campaign.
The adversity of the weather and climate in Antarctica is not only referred to the air temperature, almost constantly below zero, but also to that of the sea, also negative by about 1.8 ° C, with a significant impact on activities of underwater research. Another parameter not to be overlooked is the wind: in Antarctica for most of the year very strong “catabatic currents” are formed, winds that descend from the plateau towards the coast due to gravity, among the most intense ever measured on the entire planet, capable to exceed even 300 km / h. In this framework, which is already complex in itself, it is then necessary to take into account the infrequent but sometimes abundant snowfalls that force the staff of the base to “extraordinary work” of clearing snow. The collaboration, as well as a renewed synergy capable of making the specific skills and abilities of the Italian Armed Force available to the Country System and the national and international scientific community, also constitutes an important training and operational opportunity for the Italian Air Force, called upon to project personnel and vehicles in a context characterized by very complex climatic and environmental conditions, sometimes extreme, such as those present in Antarctica.