The Brazilian Air Force celebrates the 40th anniversary of the first landing on the frozen continent on Wednesday (23/08)
Air Force Agency: 1st/1st GT, by Lieutenant Peres
For the past four decades, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), through the First Squadron of the First Transport Group (1st/1st GT) – Gordo Squadron, has played a vital role in supporting the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR), a mission that unites science, exploration and national commitment. In a historic milestone, on August 23, the Gordo Squadron completes 40 years of operations in support of PROANTAR, a commitment that highlights the country’s dedication to scientific research and the preservation of the Antarctic continent.
A Historic Journey
The initial chapter of this journey was written on August 23, 1983, when the FAB’s C-130 Hercules aircraft flew to Antarctica for the first time. Since then, the aircraft has played the leading role in FAB operations in support of PROANTAR. With its transport capabilities and adaptation to extreme environments, the C-130 Hercules has been the driving force behind the logistics support for the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (EACF), run by the Brazilian Navy (MB), transporting personnel and material and providing essential resources for the military and scientists living in this polar region.
Summer and winter missions
The FAB’s operation in support of PROANTAR involves an average of ten missions a year. During the Antarctic summer, when temperatures are milder and sunlight is constant, the FAB transports personnel, equipment and supplies, landing at the Chilean Antarctic base Eduardo Frei. These missions are vital for the exchange between the members of the research base, allowing scientists to carry out significant studies.
As for operations during the Antarctic winter, the missions focus on launching cargo directly into the EACF, since it is impossible for Navy ships to arrive due to the extremely low temperatures that freeze the sea surface in the region. Various types of materials are launched, but mainly perishable food and essential logistical support, which are indispensable for the operation of the station at this time of year.
The KC-390 Millennium: A New Chapter
In 2022, with the arrival of the KC-390 Millennium aircraft at the Gordo Squadron, the FAB wrote a new chapter in its history of support for PROANTAR, carrying out the first cargo launch at the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station. This aircraft, developed by Embraer, brought with it a new era of possibilities for transportation and logistics on the Antarctic continent. Also capable of operating in extreme environments, with greater speed and load capacity, as well as state-of-the-art on-board technology that assists the crew during the operation, often carried out in borderline conditions, the KC-390 provides greater efficiency and safety.
“This partnership with PROANTAR is extremely important for the unit, and will continue to be carried out with excellence, now by the KC-390 Millennium, which has the complex task of following the legacy left by the C-130 Hercules over the last 40 years and raising the standard of this operation even higher,” says Gordo Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Umile Coelho Rende.
Global importance
The FAB’s support for PROANTAR goes beyond national borders. The research carried out in Antarctica not only enriches Brazilian scientific knowledge, but also contributes to global understanding of polar ecosystems and climate phenomena. International cooperation and data sharing are essential for tackling global challenges related to climate change and environmental conservation.
An Ongoing Commitment
The FAB celebrates these four decades of Gordo Squadron operations in support of PROANTAR, remembering the importance of our nation on the international Antarctic research scene, as well as its presence on the continent.
Photos: 1st/1st GT collection and Sergeant Muller Marin / CECOMSAER