“雪鹰601”入列南极考察十周年 记者实地探访中山冰雪机场

Group 1 - The core message highlights the progress of China's 42nd Antarctic expedition, with the unloading operations at Zhongshan Station nearing completion and the deployment of the fixed-wing aircraft "Snow Eagle 601" for inland missions [1] - "Snow Eagle 601" has been operational for 10 years, completing 8 Antarctic missions, accumulating over 1,100 days of operation, flying more than 2,500 hours, and covering a total distance of approximately 800,000 kilometers, equivalent to circling the Earth's equator 20 times [3] - The aircraft has established a flight network in Antarctica, centered around Zhongshan Station, extending to over 20 domestic and international research stations, enabling rapid execution of aviation tasks in the snow-covered continent [3] Group 2 - The aircraft is designed for snow and ice runways, making it more adaptable than conventional wheeled aircraft, which cannot land on these surfaces [5] - Initially, "Snow Eagle 601" relied on ice cap airports from other countries for flight operations, indicating a dependency on international infrastructure [6] - In March 2023, China inaugurated its first Antarctic runway, the Zhongshan ice and snow runway, marking a significant transition from relying on borrowed facilities to achieving autonomous operational capabilities for "Snow Eagle 601" [8] - The operational scope of "Snow Eagle 601" has expanded from mere transportation to include aviation scientific investigations, international cooperation, logistical support, and emergency rescue, becoming a critical asset for China's Antarctic scientific research [8]