Antarctic Support Group C Dickson Chan / Brett Johnson / Kaman Lau / Bertha Luk / Josefa Wivou Aircraft Evaluation & Design Appraisal Project Tuesday, 24 October 2006 Lecturers: 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  5 th largest continent  Terrain: 98% thick continental ice sheet 2% 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 range from $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  passengers  3 x Honeywell TFE 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 m 3 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 return flights (Summer ) for tourists / scientists 6 return flights (Winter 2008) for scientists Planned Aircraft Operations

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