Peter I Status Report and Summary

This summary was prepared by DXpedition co-leaders Ralph KØIR and Bob K4UEE in an effort to update our contributors, friends and the DX community on the status of our DXpedition.

International Versions:

• To see this information in Polish, Tom, SP5UAF
  has graciously provided a translation; click HERE.

• To see this information in Italian, Mauro I1JQJ
  has graciously provided a translation; click HERE.

DAP will fly us from Punta Arenas to their Antarctic base on King George Island on February 2nd.  The flight will be in a DeHavilland DASH-7, a four-engine turboprop that can carry up to 44 passengers.  After a tour of the nearby bases, including Bellingshausen (R1ANF), we will board our ship and sail for Peter I the same day.

Peter I arrival is scheduled for approximately February 6th.  Weather and ice will dictate when we actually land.  Ice floes around the island are in constant flux and will dictate our approach to the island, the distance the vessel must hold offshore and the duration of helicopter flights.

Team Antarctic/Arctic experience:

• KØIR -- Four previous Antarctic DXpeditons: VP8SSI/VP8CBA, 3YØPI, VKØIR and VP8THU/VP8GEO.

• K4UEE -- Two previous Antarctic DXpeditions: VKØIR and VP8THU/VP8GEO.

• WØRUN - Two previous tours of duty with the South African Antarctic Expedition.  One tour included a full season in Antarctica.

• F2JD -- Previous tours of duty with the French Arctic and Antarctic Expedition.  Arctic and Antarctic experience.  Involved with safety operations at the French base on Kerguelen.

• LA6VM -- Extensive experience in Arctic and North Sea oil exploration.  Very knowledgeable regarding safety, rigging, vessel inspection.

• K3VN - Previous Antarctic tours with the National Science Foundation aboard the RV Hero.

Medical:

• Two Medical Doctors are on the team, K9SG and KØIR.  K9SG will be the chief medical officer.

Ship and Flight Crew:

• The ship's captain and crew have substantial Antarctic and ice experience.  The helicopter pilots (2) have Antarctic flight experience (over 1,000 hours) and are experienced in sling load operations.  We have arranged for a helicopter mechanic and supervisor mechanic to add to the flight crew.  The vessel will carry an extensive inventory of helicopter spare parts.

• Helicopter: The helicopter is a Eurocopter BO-105.  This is a twin turbine engine aircraft that is widely used in the Antarctic and for medical evacuation operations.  The aircraft has complete redundancy of its hydraulic, electrical, and navigational systems.  The aircraft can stay aloft with one engine out.  Its useful load is 1,000 KGm

Shelters:

• The team will utilize time-tested polar shelters (WeatherHaven).  The same shelters have been used on Peter I and on Heard Island.  For safety reasons only the operating and mess shelters will be heated.

Advance planning:

• This has been very extensive from safety, landing, set-up, environmental issues, radio operation, camp issues, and waste management.  The team has practiced putting up shelters, has become familiar with its inventory of equipment, has attended classroom lectures on safety, emergency medical procedures, and radio operations.  Radio operators have been surveyed to assess their skill sets.

Permissions:

• Peter I lies in the Antarctic Treaty area..s We have submitted our environmental and safety plan to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and received confirmation that we have met all their requirements.  The US State Department has indicated they have all the necessary documentation from us and have signed-off on our expedition.  The National Science Foundation has approved our waste management plan and issued the expedition a Waste Management Permit.  Norway has issued us an amateur radio license to operate from Peter I as 3YØX.  The ship, operated by DAP, has met the requirements of the Chilean Antarctic authority, INACH.

Expected weather conditions ashore:

• Temperatures will vary from a few degrees above to a few degrees below freezing.  Winds can be substantial --- 70+ mph at times.  Visibility can fall to 0/0.  Occasional blowing and drifting snow accompanies winds.  To contend with low visibility situations, safety lines will run between camp structures, a buddy system will be in place, and members will always carry personal radios.  KØIR spent 22 days on Peter I in 1994 and is very familiar with the island weather and conditions.  Clear, quiet days are rare but absolutely fantastic.

Landing:

• The only safe and feasible landing is via helicopter.  Our site will be on a very flat, safe plateau of approximately 1.5 by 2 miles square.  The island is approximately 8 by 15 miles in size.

Personal Space:

• Crowded but adequate.  Everyone has a cot.  Everyone will supply his own sleeping bag, pad, and pillow case.  There will be a common area for eating.  Hot food and liquids will be available 24/7.

Personalities:

• To assure compatibility and "team players," the team leaders, K4UEE and KØIR, personally interviewed each prospective team member and required two character references regarding judgment, temperament, tolerance of stress, and the ability to get along well with others in close quarters.

Radio Info:

• We have nine complete ICOM Pro III / Alpha 99 HF stations plus multiple antennas.  There will be two operating sites separated by approximately 1,000 feet to allow operation on SSB and CW/digital on the same band at the same time.  We will also be QRV on 6m, 2m and 70cm EME if we can keep the antennas up!  Scheduling will be in three-hour blocks of operation during the day and a single six-hour shift at night.  Individuals may operate a single mode or multiple modes if they desire.  Schedules will be prepared well in advance, at least 24 hours.  We will schedule around, and pay particular attention to, propagation.  We want to maximize our QSO totals but also want to give everyone a full and enjoyable experience.  Operator preferences will be considered as much as possible.  KØIR will be preparing the operating schedules.  Propagation will guide our operating.

Food:

• Menus have been prepared in advance.  In addition to meals there will always be something hot in a crock pot.  There will be plenty of hot and cold liquids.  We have a gas grill to prepare hot food in large quantities.

Technology envelope:

• We will have online logs PLUS upload photos from Peter I on a regular basis.  Hopefully we will also be able to upload short video clips to our website for our radio audience back home.  We want to involve the entire amateur community and have them "experience" this adventure as much as possible.  Please understand that local weather and camp chores could interfere with our ability to do some or all of this.  However we have good people on the team who are dedicated to make this happen.

Governance:

• The team leaders are Bob K4UEE and Ralph KØIR.  We welcome input from everyone in the decision-making process.  Final decisions will be made by the team leaders.  The ship's captain and the helicopter pilot have absolute authority regarding safety and operations in their respective areas, but will consult with the team leaders.

Ship Amenities:

• Team members have full access to the ship and are welcome on the bridge if they do not interfere with normal operations.  The ship is providing a 20 by 40 foot sea container that will be outfitted as our maritime mobile operating site and we will have two complete stations.  We have permission to mount antennas on the ship.  Rooms on the ship hold from two to four people; each room has a bathroom.  The ship will remain offshore during our entire stay on the island.

Surface conditions on the island:

• Pristine!  It's almost impossible to get dirty.  We can expect an inch of somewhat loose snow on the surface.  The snow/ice becomes progressively denser with depth and is near solid ice at about two feet down.  There is no wildlife in our camp area --- hence, no smell of excrement, guano to get on your boots and in shelters, and no angry seals chasing you about.  Icebergs will continually drift past the island along with pack ice floes.

Time at the island:

• We will have sixteen days AT the Island.  Weather will dictate when we land and will influence our departure date.  Time ashore and operating time is weather dependent.  We could have to wait offshore for a day or so while weather clears, etc.  We have the option of purchasing extra days IF our finances allow.  At the moment, we do not have the funds to purchase additional days.

Hardware:

• Seven generators - total capacity 35KW.,s Two sleep shelters.  One MEG (meeting, eating, greeting) shelter.  Two operating shelters, nominally SSB and CW.  Heat for op shelters, the MEG, and cooking is from propane.  The generators are gasoline powered.  Safety lines will be in place.

Equipment:

• Our 40 ft Sea Container, with 11 tons (22,000 lbs.) inside has arrived in Chile and will be loaded aboard the vessel prior to year-end.

Other interesting people:

• Mr. Charles Veley will accompany us.  He is the World's Most Traveled Man but has yet to visit Peter I.  Our photographer, Robert Russell is a professional who has done work for National Geographic.  Our team owns the license to all photos and videos.  Team members are encouraged to bring whatever photographic equipment they wish.

Waivers, etc.:

• All of us have signed a participant's agreement and waivers of liability.  We have also signed releases allowing the photographs or videos which include our image to be used in video productions, etc.  Everyone has completed a medical history form and submitted it to our team doctor, Gary K9SG.  Everyone has completed an operator survey form indicating his skill-sets and operating preferences.  Everyone applying for team membership has had a telephone interview with one or both team leaders, submitted a photograph and a short biographical sketch.  We have one team member slot left.

Web Site:

• We maintain a public website which we encourage you to examine in detail: www.peterone.com.  Team members have a private, members-only area that posts team information.  The team has an e-mail reflector for exchange of information.

QSL information:

• There will be a beautiful double fold, six-sided souvenir QSL card available.  QSL via N2OO.

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