Journey to the Bottom of the World

Contribution from Neville Desselss

In 1993 we were contracted by a company called Adventure Network International (ANI) who needed to fly to Antarctica, which would turn out to be one of of the major highlights in Safair’s history. 

I was working in the Marketing section at the time when I received a telephone call from a lady by the name of Anne Kershaw, who owned the company. ANI operated charter flights from Punta Arenas in Chile to their base called Patriot Hills, in Antartcica.

At the time ANI had been using a DC6 aircraft, but they required something faster and more reliable.

The compnay accommodated adventure seekers who would do various activities in Antarctica like climbing the highest, Mount Vinson, which peaked at 16,000feet above sea level. Folks would also trek to the South Pole and visit the Emperor Penguins.

Understanding the scope I ran up to the Nav section and asked them to do a “quick” sector analysis in order that I could provide a quote. The team there gave me a rough figure of about 12 hours 30 mins for a round trip. I added a couple of dollars extra and provided the quote. Next thing I new, Anne Kershaw had arrived and the charter was confirmed for six weeks during the Antarctica summer season which stretches from October to December.

The crew for the contract were Captains Wessie Wessels, and Dennis Fortune, with First Officer Kevin Rogers, and Flight Engineer Brent Manson and Koekies Koekemoer

Our first flight went off without a hitch. Just after returning Captain Wessels was contacted by Anne to advise that the DC6 shed previously used had tragically crashed near Punta Arenas and she urgently required a Search and Rescue flight be undertaken as soon as possible because there were injured survivors.

The crew took minimum rest and departed on this rescue flight which they did with great aplomb. There was plenty of newspaper coverage around the mission.

We continued with ANI for a number of years after that, operating from Punta Arenas to Patriot Hills.

ANI ultimately got involved with the Italian Antarctica Expedition (ENEA / PNRA). Our base moved from Punta Arenas in Chile to Christchurch in New Zealand, from where we operated to an Italian Base in Terra Nova Bay which is now called Mario Zuchelli.

We started that New Zealand operation in mid October 2001 to early December the same year and took on the contract annually. In the end, the 2017 operation sadly turned out to be the final one. As we were preparing for the 2018 mission, the SACAA threw a spanner in works in respect of EDTO / ETOPS and we were no longer permitted to complete the flights.

Thankfully, after so many years of being involved, I got the opportunity to go along on the last operation in 2017. It was an experience not many people will have and I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity.

The crew on that last flight were Captains Marius Bergmann, Johan Lotter, and Roes de Villiers. First Officers were Leane Gilmour and Anjo du Preez. Our Flight Engineers were Wessie vd Westhuizen, and Andy Anderson. Load Masters were Sydney Saaiman and, Wayne Edwards. The Technical team was made up of Tony Lai and Morris Lekala. Our Project Manager was Hein van Staden with Ground Handling Manager Dewald Ludik, and myself, Neville Desselss.