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NEWS
BULK DISTRIBUTION
POLAR SKYDIVING COMPANY ESTABLISHED: A new company was formed in the United Kingdom in late July which plans to offer sky diving opportunities at both the South and North Geographic Poles. Polar Sky Diving Ltd.(PSD), plans to conduct sky diving activities in Antarctica in 1999-2000, including, if the weather permits, at the South Geographic Pole (SGP) on 1 January 2000. Air transport company Adventure Network International (ANI) will provide the logistics support for the operation. Scheduled date for departure from Punta Arenas, Chile, is 22 December and return there is anticipated around 5 January. ANI's support will include C-130 Hercules flights from Punta Arenas to and from the Patriot Hills, and from there via the company's new 'Basler 67' turbo twin engined aircraft (see ANPN-1/6 following) which will be used for the jumps. Twin Otter and Cessna 185 aircraft will also be available where required. PSD, which has been formed as a separate entity by Mike McDowell, President of ANI, is reported to have close links with sky diving experts and industry associations. According to the company the circumstances that led to the death of three sky divers at the SGP early in 1998 have been closely analysed and the lessons learned form a basic part of the safety standards and jump plans for forthcoming activities. PSD's WWW site provides contact points in the United Kingdom, Scandanavia, the United States and Australia and can be accessed at: http://www.polarskydive.com/ PSD is different from a proposal which involved the use of private Russian aircraft support for sky diving operations that has been mooted for several years. ANPN is attempting to find out about the status of this latter activity at this time and will provide details when known. [ANAN-1/1]
ADVENTURE CONSULTANTS PLANS RANGE OF ACTIVITIES: New Zealand company Adventure Consultants (AC) plans to run two climbs on 5,140 m Vinson Massif in the 1999-2000 season utilising Adventure Network International (ANI) air support to deploy and retrieve the parties. The first climb is expected to leave from and return to Punta Arenas (Chile) on 6 and 20 December respectively, the second running from 3-15 January. AC has previously operated nine successful climbs of Antarctica's highest mountain. Climbing groups normally consist of 4-5 clients and 2 guides. The company previously advertised a 'South Pole on Foot' expedition in 1999-2000 led by AC Director Guy Cotter. This was to involve people manhauling to the South Geographic Pole from the continent's edge, however the plan has now been shelved and will be considered again in a later year, although ANI itself is offering three such opportunities in the period between 27 October and 5 January. In the following season (2000-01), AC plans to offer a February trip via ship to the Antarctic Peninsula for mountaineering or ski touring. Adventure Consultants' Manager Suze Kelly told ANPN that the proposal involves the program's support ship being stationed offshore of climbing areas to act as a mobile base camp for those in the field. The planned trip will originate and finish in Ushuaia (Argentina). Further details of this program will be provided in future editions of ANPN as information comes to hand. [ANAN-1/2].
SECOND EDITION OF TOUR BOOK PLANNED: Tour book company Lonely Planet plans to publish a second edition of its 'Antarctica' guide in July 2000. The 362 page book, written by Jeff Rubin, was first published in November 1996, and covered many aspects of issues likely to be of interest to readers of this newsletter. Jeff is currently preparing the new edition which is due to go to the printers early in the New Year. [ANAN-1/3].
IAATO CONSIDERS THE 'BIG SHIP' ISSUE: IAATO members decided at its 1999 meeting held in Hamburg late in June not to change its by-law limiting membership to companies operating vessels which carry less than 400 passengers. Companies operating some of the vessels larger than that which plan to operate in Antarctica next season attended the open part of IAATO meeting. These include Holland America Westours or Seattle, U.S.A. ('Rotterdam', 1,000 passengers and 600 crew) and Orient Lines of Bermuda ('Marco Polo' 400-500 passengers). Other large vessels expected to operate next season are Aegean I and Ocean Wanderer I, both of which can carry around 800 passengers. All of these vessels will operate in the Antarctic Peninsula area, with 'Marco Polo' scheduled to transit to the Ross Sea towards the end of the 1999-2000 season. [ANAN-1/4].
PROPOSED MACQUARIE ISLAND MARINE PARK: The Australian Government is currently seeking comments regarding its plan to establish a 'Marine Park' in the area of the Australian territorial sea beyond 3 nautical miles from the island. While there appears to be no potential for impact for non-government activities such as tourism, fishing activity will be managed in the area proposed. Closing date for submissions is 23 August 1999. Details of the proposal are available at the following URL: http://www.environment.gov.au/marine/frameset/publications/fs_publications_main.html
ANI TO INTRODUCE NEW AIRCRAFT: United Kingdom based air transport company Adventure Network International (ANI) is to introduce a new aircraft to Antarctica next season. The aircraft, a twin-engined 'Basler 67' turbo is a completely rebuilt Douglas DC-3. The work undertaken involves the fuselage being cut in half and extended by some two metres, the old radial engines being replaced with two new Pratt and Whitney PT-6 turbines, the installation of new electrical and hydraulic systems, strengthening of the undercarriage, and gutting the cockpit and installing and all-new flight instrumentation. Four to five of these aircraft are produced by the United States' company doing this work each year. Basler 67s have been purchased mainly by government organisations in a number of parts of the world. ANI's newest aquisition provides air lift capacity between that of the C-130s and Twin Otter aircraft currently in use. [ANAN-1/6]
PEOPLE: At its 1999 meeting in Hamburg, IAATO appointed Denise Landau as its new Executive Secretary (ES), replacing Darrel Schoeling who has retired from the position. Darrel has been connected with IAATO since its beginning in 1991, first as a company representative and then as Executive Secretary. Denise comes to the ES position with many years of 'hands on' experience in Antarctic and Arctic tourism, and has been on IAATO's Executive Committee for a number of years. She will work from Basalt, Colarado in the United States. Denise becomes IAATO's third ES following on from Darrel and Melissa Folks. [ANAN-1/7]
COMING MEETINGS: At its 1999 meeting in Hamburg, IAATO decided that next year's gathering will be held in Hobart, Australia. Tentative dates are 25-28 June 2000. Enquiries about the meeting should be sent to: iaato@iaato.org Information on other meetings of relevance is welcomed by 'ANPN News'. [ANAN-1/8] ##ANAN-1 Ends.
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