From Daniel Steinhage (AWI) and Steen Savstrup (DTU Space), Antarctica.

Packing up (D. Steinhage)

On 22 January, the weather was on our side and we prepared for the last remaining flights, which we carried out in the afternoon. 

It was a great feeling to have successfully finished all the flights within the time we had, with no major setbacks. We are very confident with the data we acquired and once we get back, we will start processing analysing the them.

Once our scientific work was completed, and after we’d had dinner, we had to pack the aircraft and start the first leg of our return flight towards South Pole.

Unfortunately, as we well know, the Antarctic weather is not always cooperative and after a few hours into the flight we received the news that we had to return to Concordia because of bad weather at the pole.

Following another warm welcome in Concordia and another night’s sleep, we then again repacked our plane and collected all the weather forecasts and once again begin our journey to the South Pole and then on to Kohnen Station. After flying for 12 long hours, we finally arrived at our destination.

The next day, we had an early breakfast and after refuelling we began the last leg of the transit flight back to NOVO.

Once there, we uninstalled all the scientific instruments from the aircraft and prepared them for shipping.

Today, is 25 January which officially marks the end of the DOMECair campaign, which we are very pleased to say has been a success.

We now have to wait three days for our flight to Cape Town and then home.