Antarctic Support

Group C Dickson Chan / Brett Johnson / Kaman Lau / Bertha Luk / Josefa Wivou

Aircraft Evaluation & Design Appraisal Project

Tuesday, 24 October 2006Lecturers: Mr. John Page Mr. Zoran Vulovic

Antarctic Support

Aim: Investigate the possibility of providing specialist air support to activities in the Antarctic…...

- Support the Tourist Trade and Scientific Exploration

- Provide Search and Rescue & Medivac Capability

- Select aircraft capable of operating in the extreme environment

− Antarctica – In Brief

− Market Research

− Mission Requirements

− Regulatory Requirements

− Aircraft Analysis

− Planned Aircraft Operations

− Financial Projection

− Questions

Presentation Outline

Terrain

5th largest continent

Terrain: 98% thick continental ice sheet2% barren rock

Average elevations: 2000 to 4000 m

11% of Antarctica are Glaciers and floating ice shelves

Antarctica in brief

Weather / Climate

- Coldest, Windiest and Driest Continent

Antarctica in brief

General Facts

Home to various national scientific research base

11 ice runways and 22 skiways

These facilities do not meet ICAO standards

Very few transport systems within Antarctica

Antarctica in brief

Our Focus – 2 Key Areas

Look at existing air support for Antarctica

Examine Scientific and Tourist Market

Market Research

Existing Air Operations to Antarctica

Market Research

Scientific Market

Examined Australia, Japan, New Zealand & USA science bases

Opportunities to serve Australia’s Research Activities (Australian Antarctic Division - AAD)

Identified AAD needs:

high speed service from Antarctica to Australia

Market Research

Tourist Market consists of:

Airbourne / Over-flight Tourism (by air, no landing, e.g. Qantas)

Vessel Trips (tourists stay onboard shipping vessels)

Actual Landings (mostly via shipping vessels)

Limited Accommodations Available on Antarctica

Market Research

Cost of tour packages rangefrom $19,000 to $59,000usd

Majority of tours are ship-based

Antarctic Tourism Data (1 of 2)

Market Research

Antarctic Tourism Data (2 of 2)

Market Research

Base of Operation (Australian Mainland)

Examined various locations – selected Hobart

Benefits

Location (closest major Australian city to Antarctica) Existing base of Antarctic community + organisations Existing infrastructures (e.g. ports / research centres)

Market Research

Base of Operation (Antarctic Mainland)

Examined various Australian bases – selected Casey

Benefits

Location (closest to Hobart) Purpose built blue-ice runway for larger aircraft Hub of all Australian Antarctic bases

Market Research

Our Operating Model

Tourists will:

Travel by Air on one sector to or from Antarctica

and then

travel on the remaining sector by sea on shipping vessel

Market Research

Air Operator Certificate (e.g. aerial work to and from Australian Antarctic Territory)

Environmental Restrictions

Crew Provisions (3 flight crew required)

ETOPS

Regulatory Requirements

Inter-continental

The Aircraft should be able to:

- Improve existing capability for

urgent / critical re-supply missions

- Compliment the AAD’s existing

air support capabilities

Mission Requirements

Major requirements (Inter-continental)

Range (at least 3443km; preferably > 7000km)

Speed (Hobart – Casey in less than 6hrs)

Payload (2 to 5 tonnes)

Capacity (5 to 10 passengers; scientists given priority to fly)

Weather (operate at -30°C; max cross-wind limit > 20 knots)

Fuel (Jet B grade fuel)

Mission Requirements

Search and Rescue / Medical Evacuations

Very different requirements SAR requires STOL / VTOL capability + trained ground staff Medical Evacuations requires fast aircraft with good ground

access, and also enough space for medical equipments / stretchers on board

Conclusion: Not feasible to provide Search and Rescue

Focus will be on providing Medivac services

Mission Requirements

Other requirements (Inter-continental)

Navigation instruments

Ground accessibility (e.g. for convenient loading)

Noise footprint (the smaller the better!)

Aircraft with more than 2 engines (avoid ETOPS restrictions)

Mission Requirements

Inter-continental mission

Examined potential candidates for the mission Existing inter-continental aircraft:

Lockheed LC-130F Hercules Ilyushin IL-76 Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

Too large for our mission requirement

Selected Dassault Falcon-900EX

Aircraft Analysis

Falcon 900EX – Summary

Designed as a large intercontinental business jet

16 -18 passengers

3 x Honeywell TFE731-60 Turbofan engines

Max fuel capacity: 11,865 Litres

2 man cockpit

Aircraft Analysis

Falcon 900EX – Summary

Ground turn radius of 14.55m

Tri-cycle type landing gear with anti-skid system

2 independent hydraulic systems (3000 lb/sq in)

3 engine-driven pumps

Heated bleed air anti-icing for wing leading edges, intakes and centre engine duct

Aircraft Analysis

Falcon 900EX – Dimensions

External

Length: 20.21m

Height: 7.55m

Wingspan: 19.33m

Baggage Door: Height – 0.75m / Width – 0.95m

Passenger door: Height – 1.72m; Width 0.8m

Aircraft Analysis

Falcon 900EX - Dimensions

Internal Cabin: Length – 10.11m; Height – 1.88m; Width – 1.91m

Rear Baggage Compartment Volume: 3.8 m3

Aircraft Analysis

Falcon 900EX – Performance

Long range cruise: Mach 0.75 Range: 8334km Payload: 2796kg MTOW: 21,900kg Max Cruise altitude: 51,000ft Operating Temp: -54°C to 50°C Take-off run: 1,590m Landing run: 724m (thrust reverser on centre engine)

V approach – approx. 109 kts

Aircraft Analysis

Falcon 900EX – Benefits

- Meeting all the mission requirements

- Operates more efficiently and effectively than larger aircraft

- Reduced reliance on long-range weather forecasting

- Environmental benefits: only requires refuelling in Antarctica by exception, reducing costs of transporting fuel

- Ability to be used in emergency response or medivac

- Ability to carry small amounts of time-critical cargo

Aircraft Analysis

Airfield + additional requirements

− Casey (Wilkins Aerodrome)

− Glacial blue ice runway surface

− Airfield: 4000m long & 200m wide

− Elevation: 750m ASL

− Requires backup ground-based APU and fuel stockpile

Planned Aircraft Operations

Flight Schedule

− Return flights take 1 day

− Depart Hobart at 1700, Arrive Casey by 2300 (day light)

− Depart Casey at 0100, Arrive Hobart by 0500

43 return flights (Summer 2007-2008) for tourists / scientists

6 return flights (Winter 2008) for scientists

Planned Aircraft Operations

Financial Projections

Financial Projections

− Antarctic Air-link: Hobart - Casey

− Most suitable aircraft: Falcon 900EX

− Enhance existing air-transport capability

− Expect Growth in Scientific and Tourist Markets

− Profitable Operations

− …………………… Questions?

Conclusion & Questions