On April 5, 2003 the first flights of the airline Gazpromavia have been undertaken within the framework of realization of the project “The Floating station “North Pole-32”, organized by the Arctic and Antarctic research center "Pole".
The plane AN-74 has delivered the consignment to build the base "Barneo" in waters of the Arctic Ocean 400 km from the North Pole.
Gazpromavia will deliver equipment, life support facilities, fuel and scientific instruments to this base. Then these consignments will be forwarded to one of the ice floes in the central basin of the Arctic Ocean to organize the floating research station “North Pole-32”.
Taking into consideration climatic conditions, the base "Barneo" will operate approximately one month. During this time the station should begin the operation. It is planned that its opening will take place this year in the last decade of April.
Domestic studies in high latitudes of Arctic regions using floating research station will be carried out for the first time since 1991.
For the last ten years essential changes in hydrosphere, ice, biosphere and development of atmospheric processes have occurred in the Arctic basin.
At the same time, these changes cannot be taken into account to the full extent in applied Russian studies and fundamental researches without receiving of reliable year-round information concerning the state of the Arctic waters under ice cover.
Satellite measuring systems do not allow now and, apparently, will not give an opportunity in the near future to scan ocean strata.
Automatic drifting buoys are limited in their information opportunities and do not give necessary data record all oceanic processes in these regions.
The Russian floating station will be used as an international laboratory to solve the planetary problems of World ocean, as well as problems related to global changes of the climate, guarantee ecological safety, decrease damage from acts of God and man-caused disasters.
Investigation and monitoring of the state of natural and technical systems in waters of the Arctic Ocean, solution of geopolitical problems of Russia’s presence in high latitudes of Arctic regions are among the primary goals of the project.
Besides, expedition will be engaged in studying and development of high-latitude navigation routes to turn the northern marine route into the year-round operating transport main waterway.
SP – 32 will become a unique proving ground to develop the newest technologies, organization of ecological tourism, as well as one more element to develop the infrastructure of the Russian north. It is supposed, that SP – 32 term of operation will make up at least one year.
Reference:
The airline Gazpromavia is 100% Gazprom’s subsidiary. The Airline Company has been established in 1995.
The company Gazpromavia is engaged in transportation of Gazprom’s shift personnel to the regions of Western Siberia and Far North where the basic fields of the company are located, charter operations on internal and international air lines, as well as regular air transport of passengers, baggage and cargo inside Russia.
Gazpromavia’s air fleet consists of 33 planes and 84 helicopters. The base airport is Ostafievo (Moscow).