Helicopter at the service of research

The team's two technicians, Roland Richter and Victor Santos, are preparing the helicopter. "As soon as the flight operation starts, the heli-deck becomes a closed aviation safety area", explains pilot Carsten Zilgen.

On our expedition, the whale researchers use the helicopters for their reconnaissance flights.

They are just returning from their observation flight in one of the helicopters.

The helicopter approaches our ship to land safely on board again.

The heli-service team is assessing…

… and checks the helicopter.

Flight Operations Manager Michael Gischler at work on the helicopter deck.

On "Polarstern" two BK117 C1 helicopters are on board. This model is robust, and because of their good flight characteristics, these helicopters have proven themselves for polar expeditions. The two helicopters are fully suitable for instrument and night flight and can be used in temperatures down to -45°C.

In the hangar, the helicopters are lashed down and shipshape.

No flights today. The weather is too bad. Time for technical maintenance, including among other things, the removal of the helicopter’s front nose, so that …

… the battery behind the weather radar can be checked.

The configuration on "Polarstern" allows room for 8 people, 2 in the cockpit and 6 in the cabin.

The BK117 can be used for passenger and material transportation, carry a rescue winch and transport material and personnel as external load. The maximum take-off weight is 3,350 kgs; for external load transportation the maximum 3,500 kgs.

Normally, the BK117 is controlled by a pilot. During the upcoming Mosaic experiment in the Arctic, a flight assistant will be set up as a co-pilot during the night to assist the pilot.