Cargo Drop Mission to King George Island

The Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB – Brazilian Air Force) conducted the first operational mission to Antarctica using an Embraer KC-390 Millenium aircraft on 28 June.

Departing from Pileotas in Rio Grande do Sul, the operational cargo drop mission proceeded to Punta Arenas in Chile, whence it flew on to supply the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station of the Brazilian Navy, on King George Island, marking the first operational use of the aircraft in Antarctica. The aircraft was from 1/1 Transport Group, ‘Esquadrão  Gordo,’ which has specialised in providing support to the Brazilian Antarctic programme, using C-130s, since 1983. The squadron is the second FAB unit to receive the KC-390 and is expected shortly to operate missions that will land and take off from the Chilean runway at King George Island, which has been a regular feature of Hercules operations.

Santiago Rivas reporting from Buenos Aires for MON