The airfields of the Russian Stations Novolazarevskaya (WAP RUS-Ø9 & WAP MNB-Ø6) and Progress (WAP-RUS-11) in Antarctica successfully hosted the first intercontinental flights of 76TD-90VD aircraft in the 2024-2025 season. The aircraft arrived from Cape Town, delivering a total of about 100 polar explorers and more than 10 tons of cargo to the Icy Continent.
Specialists of the Russian Antarctic Expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute have confirmed their readiness to ensure the reception and dispatch of international aircraft under the DROMLAN program.
The Dronning Maud Land Air Network (DROMLAN) is an air network supported by a consortium of the eleven national programmes that have stations or operations in Dronning Maud Land. Dromland purpose is to create a coordinated logistics service to reduce costs. The participating countries are: Belgium, Finland, Germany, India, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and United Kingdom.
The largest number of flights this season is planned at the airfield of the Russian Novolazarevskaya Station, which is a key center of aviation communication and one of the largest transport and logistics hubs in Antarctica.
“The program of intercontinental flights under the DROMLAN program will be expanded this season. 
Russian specialists will provide conditions for safe landing on ice and snow runways for about 20 flights of the IL-76 aircraft giant, whose take-off weight exceeds 200 tons. The Zenit airfield at Progress station is the only site in the world that allows heavy aircraft on wheeled landing gear to be taken to the snow strip. Six flights are expected there this season, with scientists from Russia, China and India arriving. The first flight to Progress Base has already delivered a team of Russian builders and materials for equipping a new wintering complex at the Vostok intercontinental station. The sledge-crawler trek will go deep into the continent in just a few days” said Alexander Makarov, director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
TNX Oleg UA6GG DX Design-DX Trophy & Oleg ZS1ANF
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On the mean time, Oleg Sakharov ZS1ANF who is at Cape Town at the moment, has just called to inform that he is preparing for the next season in Antarctica, where he will be at Wolf’s Fang Runway (WAP MNB-12) as ZS7ANF. (Pic to the left: Oleg’s tent at WFR)
We really hope that Oleg will be able to activate the new sites such as Union Glacier Camp (WAP MNB-NEW), Fuel Depot 83-South Pole Camp (WAP MNB-Ø9)!
David FT4YM (pic to the Right) is also on the way to Antarctica. Possible activity for him is scheduled by the beginning of November.
Lt. Danilo Collino (pic to the Left) has departed this morning at 03:00UTC from Milan-Airport heading Antarctica, Danilo will sign IZ1KHY/IAØ from few different locations; Concordia (WAP MNB-Ø3), maybe Little Dome C-Epica (WAP MNB-15) and MZS (WAP ITA-Ø1) unless different plans on the way on. …
Stay Tuned…
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