‘Best time of my life’: Christchurch farewells US Air Force plane
Friday, 19 January 2024
Christchurch Airport has been honoured with a farewell visit from a United States Air Force KC-10 aircraft as the fleet heads into retirement.
The 30-person crew is visiting the nine airports it has worked with to say ‘thank you and goodbye’.
The aircraft landed in Christchurch on Wednesday January 10 to a water arch from the airport’s fire team - an honour usually kept for inaugural arrivals, like the one received by United Airlines in December.
The KC-10 stayed on the tarmac before leaving early on the morning of Friday 12 January.
By September, the USAF’s inventory of KC-10s will be decommissioned and gradually replaced with KC-46 aircraft.
John Coker was a crew chief on board KC-10s from 1993 to 2000.
He thanked the crew for honouring the plane and told Stuff Travel flying on the planes was the “best time of my life. 100%”.
Coker said it was “sad to see such a reliable aircraft with such low hours retire way before its time”.
Captain Marie Ortiz from USAF’s Air Mobility Command said the KC-10 is from the 9th Air Refueling Squadron, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base in California.
The 60th wing’s activity has been primarily focused in the Pacific and Indian Ocean area, including Alaska and Antarctica.
Christchurch is one of five Antarctic gateway cities globally and one of two which provide access to the Ross Sea area.
The US National Science Foundation Antarctic Program uses Christchurch as its gateway to McMurdo Station - America’s main station on the coldest continent.
Head of the Christchurch Antarctic Office David Tayler said Christchurch has collaborated with the United States Antarctic Programme for nearly 65 years.
“The enduring partnership between Christchurch and the US Antarctic Program reflects a shared dedication to advancing scientific knowledge and addressing global challenges.”
He said the two offices collaborated on the Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2 Degrees Celsius of Warming (SWAIS2c) project, bringing together various programs to drill ice cores and unravel the mysteries of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet during warmer periods.
“This valuable insight aims to enhance our understanding of sea level rise and other atmospheric changes associated with planetary warming,” Tayler said.
Christchurch is also home to the headquarters of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs, a group of countries responsible for planning and conducting Antarctic operations in support of science.