La Union Glacier campaign in Antarctica It is already underway with the deployment of two DHC-6-300 Twin Otters from Aviation Group No. 6, activating the air bridge to one of the most remote enclaves of the white continent, where knowledge of the parts of a glacier It is key to research. The operation reopens the Joint Scientific Polar Station, a non-permanent facility designed to support exploration and science in extreme conditions.
This is an effort inter-institutional collaboration between the Chilean Air Force, Army, Navy, DGAC (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) and INACH (Chilean National Institute of Chimbote). which combines logistics and science in a high-risk operational environment. Strategic leadership rests with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and execution with the 4th Air Brigade, while the station, inaugurated in 2014, is being prepared for a new season of technical and scientific work.
Air bridge and station opening
The flight itinerary began on November 14 from Chabunco Air Base in Punta Arenas, with the first stop in the Presidente Frei Antarctic Air Base (King George Island). After technical checks and logistical preparation, the crews resumed flight on November 18 towards the British station of Rothera, before completing the last leg to Union Glacier on November 20.
As the aircraft traffic progressed, on November 19th an advance team arrived to open the facility: they unearthed the housing and technical modulesHe removed snow accumulations and reactivated telecommunications systems. These tasks, carried out in sub-zero temperatures and shifting winds, are essential to make the base operational before the arrival of the main crew.
Union Glacier is located in the Antarctic Circle, at 1.129 km from the South Pole about 3.000 km from Punta Arenas, at coordinates 79°46′ S and 83°19′ W, where the glacier dynamics It directly impacts operations. Distance, isolation, and weather conditions turn every personnel and cargo rotation into a high-level logistical challenge.
In this context, the flight equipment DHC-6-300 Twin Otter It is the central piece of the air bridge: it is prepared to operate on unprepared runways, transport personnel, support ground and air explorations and sustain the fine supplies demanded by the station throughout the campaign.
The Joint Polar Scientific Station Union Glacier operates seasonally and its annual reactivation It requires months of planning. Coordination between the branches of the Armed Forces and scientific teams allows for the synchronization of windows of favorable weather, prioritized cargo, and operational safetyminimizing exposure times to a particularly demanding environment.
Scientific objectives and field team
This year's mission includes a milestone: the installation of the first permanent weather stations on Mount VinsonThe highest massif in Antarctica (almost 4.900 m). The equipment will use batteries and components designed to withstand temperatures between -35 °C and -45 °C, in order to ensure data continuity at high altitude.
In addition, projects will be implemented in Photogrammetry, solar radiation measurement and geodesyas well as the review and remeasurement of survey points in the Patriot Hills area, where Chile maintained a base until 2013. The information gathered will feed climate models and key geodynamics for the scientific community.
In the chain of command, the Joint Chiefs of Staff leads the campaign, the execution of which falls to the 4th Air BrigadeOn the ground, the station is headed by Army Lieutenant Colonel Francisco López, responsible for coordinating operations, security and support for the scientific teams.
The Southern Joint Command has planned an operational period of approximately one month, weather permitting. The plan includes flight windows, staff rotation and contingencies to ensure the continuity of the work and the safe return of the crews before the end-of-year festivities, weather permitting.
In the healthcare field, the flock captain Karina OjedaThe only woman in the unit, she serves as the medical officer and doctor for the contingent. Her role encompasses first aid training, risk prevention, and emergency response in an environment where evacuations are complex.
The campaign also highlights international cooperation in Antarctica: transit through the British station Rothera and coordination with scientific actors at the regional and European levels strengthens the exchange of capabilities to operate safely and effectively in extreme latitudes.
With the base now open, the air bridge secured, and the scientific teams underway, the operation at Union Glacier is focused on combining robust logistics, high-value research and sustained presence in one of the most isolated areas of the planet, contributing data and experience that strengthen the polar work of Chile and its partners.
