Two helicopters belonging to Germany’s Heli Transair are onboard the research and supply vessel Polarstern, which has set sail for a 65-day expedition from Cape Town to the Weddell Sea (Antarctic). In October 2003, Heli Transair established a cooperation agreement with the owner and operator of the polar research craft, the shipping company Laeisz.

Also onboard are two Heli Transair pilots and two aircraft equipment inspectors with a full supply of spare parts. These specially-equipped BO105 helicopters support the scientific activities of the expedition.

Chief executive of Heli Transair, Eberhard Herr, was present in Cape Town when the MS Polarstern put to sea. He said: “With our experienced pilots, we are going to provide optimal support to this expedition.”

The double-walled ice breaker, MS Polarstern, is fully equipped

for biological, geological, geo-physical, glaciological, chemical, oceanographic and meteorological research activities.

She is considered one of the most efficient and powerful polar research crafts worldwide.

Heli Transair’s helicopters will

be used by 50 German and international scientists for flights to the Antarctic continent.