The air bridge between Christchurch and Antarctica this summer season has been recently dominated by US Air National Guard Lockheed LC130H Hercules as ice conditions have prevented the use of the much heavier Boeing C17 Globemaster aircraft that would normally provide the bulk of support.
C17 08-8201 arrived at Christchurch in the early hours of 20 January from Hickam as "Reach 5E2" and remained static until 07 February when it returned north to Hickam as "Reach 5E4" without flying a mission south. It was replaced on the evening of 08 February with the arrival of 09-9209 from Hickam as "Reach 5E2".
The Hercules fleet have this season been using odd ball callsigns making it difficult to tie up what aircraft has been doing what and Friday evening 76-3301 arrived from Pegasus Field as "Skier 88".
