China plans to set up an Antarctic air squadron this year to support its scientific expeditions to the polar region. (Photo : REUTERS)

The State Oceanic Administration has announced plans to set up an Antarctic air squadron this year to support its scientific expeditions to the polar region, China Daily reported.



The agency did not reveal details about the squadron but said it will be used to support polar exploration as well as serve as an aerial observation platform.




In a statement released on Friday, Feb. 12, the administration said that the country will continue to develop technologies and equipment to improve research on remote sensing and oceanography.



On Nov. 7 last year, the research vessel and icebreaker Xuelong, which is being used in the 32nd Antarctic expedition, left Shanghai for a 159-day round trip of 55,500 kilometers.



The research and experiments in Antarctica were conducted by a 277-strong team from more than 80 domestic institutions, the report said.



During the mission, researchers will be making a final survey for China's fifth Antarctic station site at Victoria Land on the Ross Sea, and map the site and assess the ecological and environmental impacts of the setup.



Scientific experiments will also be performed by reseachers at China's Changcheng, Zhongshan, Taishan and Kunlun stations, as well as at Prydz Bay, on the Ross Sea, on the Amundsen Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula.



During their stay in the Antarctica, members of the expedition used a fixed-wing aircraft for the first time. The plane was bought from the United States and now maintained by a Canadian company. It carried out airborne remote sensing and telemetry tasks before leaving for Canada last week. China previously used only helicopters for its polar expeditions.



Sun Bo, deputy head of the Polar Research Institute of China, said that China is now training pilots, ground support staff members and scientific instrument operators for fixed-wing polar aircraft so they can operate and manage the planned polar aircraft fleet.



In related news, the State Oceanic Administration will launch several deep-sea projects this year involving seabed mining experiments, biological diversity research and deep-water exploration. Part of the development plan includes the establishment of a deep-sea exploration station.



The administration said that the country will send its seventh research mission to the Arctic this year. It is also planning the first Sino-Russian Arctic mission.

