The Air Force has landed an Orion aircraft in Antarctica for the first time in an attempt to find out whether surveillance patrols of the Southern Ocean can be extended.
The Orion executed a trial landing on the ice runways of Pegasus Airfield on Monday with 13 crew on board.
While the aircraft and crew has operated in extreme cold weather conditions before, it is the first time they have operated from an ice runway.
Defence spokesperson Danielle Coe says having the flights based in Antarctica would mean the Air Force could carry out more extensive patrols of the southern ocean.
Coe says the patrols have been set up to monitor illegal fishing of the Patagonian Toothfish and the trial has nothing to do with Japan's whaling fleet being in the Southern Ocean.
The flight was welcomed by New Zealand's CCAMLR Commissioner Trevor Hughes of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"These flights are in support of the CCAMLR Convention, which aims to conserve the precious marine life of the Southern Ocean. The Orion flights demonstrate how seriously New Zealand takes CCAMLR's goals," said Hughes.
Antarctica New Zealand CEO Lou Sanson says operating out of Antarctica would provide greater direct access to the Southern Ocean.
