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Title:  Statement by Dr. Karl A. Erb, Status of South Pole Medical
           Situation
Date:   October 5, 1999





Media Contact:			                 October 5,1999
Peter West
PS 99-19
(703) 306-1070/pwest@nsf.gov
					Statement By

				DR. KARL A. ERB, DIRECTOR
OFFICE OF POLAR PROGRAMS
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Status of South Pole Medical Situation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has requested that the 109th
Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard deploy to  Antarctica
and conduct a flight to the  South  Pole  to bring  out  the  physician
at Amundsen-Scott  South   Pole Station. The physician, Dr. Jerri
Nielsen, has been carrying out her normal responsibilities since the
U.S. Air Force air drop of medical supplies in July.
Her stateside physicians are now recommending to us that she be
returned to  the  United States at  the  earliest  safe opportunity.
The  onset of summer in Antarctica,  with  its gradual  increase  in
sunlight  and temperature,  make  it feasible  to  evacuate Dr. Nielsen
and to replace her  with another physician.
The  109th provides logistical support to the U.S. Antarctic Program,
which is  administered by NSF.  It  is  the  only organization  in  the
world that flies the ski-equipped  LC-130s,  which  are the only
aircraft capable  of landing  at South Pole at this time of year.
NSF  anticipates  that the operation will  be  conducted  in accordance
with criteria developed by the 109th to  minimize risks  to the aircrew
and to the aircraft under the  weather conditions characteristic of the
South Pole at this time  of year.
Two  aircraft  and three aircrews will depart from  Stratton Air
National Guard Base in Schenectady, N.Y. on  Wednesday, Oct.  6,  1999.
They are expected to arrive at NSF's McMurdo Station in Antarctica on or
around Oct. 12, where they  will await  favorable conditions to fly the
roughly 800 miles  to the Pole.