Sparky on Ice

03/12/2022

Well, I am officially out of the Antarctic program. Just sent my laptop back.

15/11/2021

I was finally able to get a new video made and uploaded. Sorry it has been so long between shows.

https://youtu.be/_4IBHvEEEGw

11/10/2021

Latest episode is now available. I added in the crane pick of the aquarium pumps for this episode.
https://youtu.be/1fPixlLCGLw

Well we are back in yellow and work still has to happen.I talk about the aquarium pumps and my some of the new stuff going on here. In history I cover Shack...

19/09/2021

The latest video of the podcast is out. Go check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEis8FrNDjE

In this episode I talk a little about future plans for the show and some to the things we have to do to keep this station running properly.In history, we wil...

05/09/2021

First episode of the season. Really just a catch up show, but here it is.
https://anchor.fm/robert-ray4/episodes/Episode-29-Back-on-the-Ice--Again-e16u8aq/a-a6fjf4a

Well I am back on the Ice and it is WinFly. It got off to a rough start, but we are here and doing our best to make thing happen. This is a catch up episode, so I go back to last year and quickly bring it to now. If you have any questions you can contact me on Twitter or Facebook with o...

15/08/2021

WinFly has landed! Here’s the C17 Globemaster III yesterday at Phoenix airfield on the Ross Ice Shelf marking the end of winter isolation at McMurdo Station and Scott Base; current temperature: -34°C.
The Boeing Company, National Science Foundation (NSF) Antarctica New Zealand
photo: Zeke Mills

10/08/2021

Experienced my first boomerang flight yesterday. Flew for 4 hours then turned around and flew another 4 hours back to Christchurch.
Not a fun time.

05/08/2021

I am still in Christchurch and expect be here through at least Saturday.
Winfly is still proceeding as normal.

17/07/2021

https://youtu.be/mmIPMVKrmAM

If you have any questions just drop me an email [email protected] Facebook https://mbasic.facebook.com/sparkyonice/Twitter https://twitter.com/Sparkyonice

02/07/2021

Strong winds on the polar plateau sculpt the sharp wavy patterns of sastrugi, visible here in the purple twilight of midday, Concordia Station
Institut polaire français Paul-Émile Victor
ItaliAntartide - 36.ma Spedizione
ESA - European Space Agency
photo: Cédric Albert

02/07/2021

Construction of a new ice pier is underway at Winter Quarters Bay, McMurdo Station, the first to be built from scratch since 2015. An attempt was made last winter, but the weather did not cooperate. The normal life span of the ice pier is 3-5 years, though they are vulnerable to storms, such as the weather events of 2015 and 2019.
Once the sea ice has reached a min thickness of 60cm, Fleet Operations personnel construct a snow berm along the perimeter of the soon-to-be ice pier. Sea water is flooded on top, to a depth of 10cm; it takes approx 24 hours to freeze (current temperature: -28°C). The process is continually repeated until the pier is approx 5m thick.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
photo: James Penkusky

01/07/2021

Sr. Administrative Coordinator- Full-time
https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/PAE_Careers/job/US-CO-Denver/Administrative-Coordinator--Senior--Marine-_R0060057-1

Maintenance Specialists- HVAC/R Facilities Professionals - McMurdo
https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PAE_Careers/job/OCONUS-Antarctica-McMurdo-Station/Maintenance-Specialist_R0057330-4

Firefighters AARF - McMurdo
https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PAE_Careers/job/OCONUS-Antarctica-McMurdo-Station/Firefighter_R0054370-4
Heavy Equipment Technicians - Pole
https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PAE_Careers/job/OCONUS-Antarctica-South-Pole-Station/Heavy-Equipment-Technician-II--VMF-_R0053999-3
Electricians- McMurdo
https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PAE_Careers/job/OCONUS-Antarctica-McMurdo-Station/Electrician_R0054108-2

Plumbers- McMurdo
https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PAE_Careers/job/OCONUS-Antarctica-McMurdo-Station/Plumber_R0053877-4

HVAC Controls Technicians- McMurdo
https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PAE_Careers/job/OCONUS-Antarctica-McMurdo-Station/Controls-Technician_R0054093-5

Network Engineer - Full-time
https://careers.leidos.com/jobs/6857082-network-engineer

South Pole Operations Manager - Full-time
https://careers.leidos.com/jobs/7009959-south-pole-operations-manager

Geographic Information System Specialist (GIS) - Full-time
https://careers.leidos.com/jobs/7020095-antarctica-geographic-information-system-specialist-gis

https://careers.leidos.com/search/jobs?q=antarctica

https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PAE_AntarcticSupportContract

01/07/2021

Winfly is coming soon. I head for isolation in less then 2 weeks and then to the ice in early August.

10/06/2021

Want to work in Antarctica?

Apply now.

https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PAE_AntarcticSupportContract

01/06/2021

Adelie penguins on the foreshore at Rothera Station; behind, an iceberg grounded in the bay, with pancake ice forming inshore. In the polar twilight, a waning gibbous Moon shines to the south.
photo: Klara Weaver
British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council

27/05/2021

Just saw some dates about deployment this year.
July 13th- depart for Sanfrancisco
July 17th- depart to Christchruch
August 22nd- Ice flight.
Looks like I am going back early this year.
I will reboot the show once I am in Christchurch and do some updates.

21/05/2021

Multiple curtains of aurora australis ripple through the sky, beneath the galactic center in Scorpius and Sagittarius; the view south from Scott Base .
photo: Jamie McGaw
Antarctica New Zealand

20/05/2021

Experience Antarctica like never before in the first 360 video filmed at all three U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) research stations. Managed by the National S...

20/05/2021

As bright as it gets at noon; the midday twilight reveals the silhouette of Mt Erebus 3794m, Earth’s southernmost active volcano. This view north, from out on the ice in front of Scott Base, Ross Island. At noon, the Sun is currently 7.8° below the northern horizon.
photo: Jonathan Foster

20/05/2021

19/05/2021

Heavy Equipment Technician - this is a seasonal contract position at McMurdo Station.

Note: NZ citizens will be considered for this position.

A minimum of two years’ experience in heavy equipment maintenance and repair required; or one years’ experience with heavy equipment maintenance and repair, in addition to one summer or winter Antarctic deployment working as a technician.

ASE certifications, and dealership certifications a plus.

Experience on a broad range of construction equipment, specifically Caterpillar equipment is preferred.

https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/PAE_AntarcticSupportContract/job/OCONUS-Antarctica-McMurdo-Station/Heavy-Equipment-Technician-I--VMF-_R0053994

19/05/2021

Foreman - Vehicle Maintenance Facility - this position is needed at both South Pole and McMurdo stations.

Note: NZ citizens will be considered for both positions.

Minimum of eight (8) years’ experience with heavy and light vehicle & equipment maintenance and repair, required.

Experience with generators, mobile cranes, light plants, compaction, ski resort grooming, waste management and firefighting equipment is highly preferred.

Requires knowledge of sound mechanical practices as applied to commercial and special-purpose equipment, to include electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.

Proficiency in lifting and bracing large and heavy parts/equipment with jacks, cranes, floor lift and cribbing is required.

Two (2) years’ supervisory or leadership experience is required.

https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/PAE_AntarcticSupportContract/job/OCONUS-Antarctica-McMurdo-Station/Shop-Foreman--VMF-_R0054000

19/05/2021

14/05/2021

Boiler Mechanic - this is a seasonal job at McMurdo Station.
Four years experience in boiler operation and complete hydronic and steam HVAC systems maintenance and repair.

Boiler Mechanic - this is a seasonal job at McMurdo Station.

Four years experience in boiler operation and complete hydronic and steam HVAC systems maintenance and repair.

https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PAE_AntarcticSupportContract/job/OCONUS-Antarctica-McMurdo-Station/Boiler-Mechanic_R0057347-1

14/05/2021

Firefighter, Lieutenant - this is a seasonal contract position at McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

Four years previous full time firefighting experience.

At least two years of experience as a supervisor.

IFSAC, Pro-Board/DoD, or State Certified Fire Fighter I/II.

Airport Fire Fighter.

Hazardous Materials First Responder: Operations, and EMT-B are required.

National Incident Management System (NIMS): ICS 100 and 200 required.

IFSAC, Pro-Board/DoD or State Certified Driver Operator; Pumper/Mobile Water Supply; Driver Operator ARFF; Paramedic; Hazardous Materials Technician preferred.

https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/PAE_Careers/job/OCONUS-Antarctica-McMurdo-Station/Firefighter--Lieutenant_R0054373-3