No SAR, No Backup And No Fuel

"Well, Fred, you knew the job was dangerous when you took it."
--Cartoon hero Super Chicken to sidekick Fred the Lion

Jon Johanson was to have flown out of McMurdo-Scott Base in Antarctica Saturday after becoming the first pilot ever to fly an experimental single-engine aircraft over the South Pole. Now, Johanson is at the center of a controversy between Australia and its two closest allies -- New Zealand and the US. Officials from New Zealand and the United States see Johanson's attempt as a huge imposition and have refused to sell him the fuel he needs to get home. Hence, Johanson has been stranded.

Johanson left Invercargill, New Zealand, December 7th on a record-setting flight to Ushuaia, Argentina in his home-built RV4. But the plan was a risky one at best. The landing at McMurdo-Scott was unplanned, according to a Johanson news release. "[H]eadwinds were much stronger than forecast. With airports few and far between in the Antarctic, Jon changed his destination to fly to McMurdo after overflying the South Pole."

Antarctica New Zealand was clearly "put out" with Johanson's adventure and with his refusal to accept an expensive ride home, sans RV.

"Neither the US or NZ Scott Base was informed of the flight and no preparations made for contingency or emergency landing," the organization writes on its web site. "Had the pilot failed to reach McMurdo, he would have required the resources of the US and NZ programmes to rescue him placing many lives at risk."

Still, Antarctica New Zealand was willing to help. "We have extended the pilot the normal courtesies routinely offered by New Zealand and US stations in Antarctica. The pilot should have made the decision to abandon his original flight plans much sooner when faced with these weather conditions and returned to Invercargill," said Sanson. “We will offer him transport back to Christchurch on one of the regularly scheduled flights between McMurdo and Christchurch and will discuss provisions."

Officially, both New Zealand and American officials say they simply don't have the kind of fuel Johanson needs to make his flight. But the level of animosity displayed by Antarctica New Zealand seems to indicate a darker agenda.

Sanson and his organization were clearly bitter about the whole incident. The New Zealanders harshly criticized what they said was poor planning on Johanson's part, comparing his venture to that of fellow globetrotting pilot Polly Vacher of Great Britain.

"She and her staff spent two years preparing for her flight with significant advice from national Antarctic programs. It is ironic that she is now assisting a stranded pilot who embarked upon an ill-prepared and secret flight over the South Pole."

Vacher (above right), who had planned to circumnavigate the globe on a polar route, cancelled her flight over the South Pole days before Johanson left New Zealand. She cited the unavailability of fuel and harsh weather conditions. Vacher, a grandmother whose trip was two years in the making, then offered Johanson the fuel he needs to make it home. She'd sent the fuel ahead to McMurdo-Scott Base, which is operated by the United States and Antarctica New Zealand, so that he could fly his aircraft home instead of shipping it.

FMI: http://users.chariot.net.au/~theburfs/jjohanson.html