Media Release
26 August 2005

Surviving in the Snow

Members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will switch the comforts of home for snow caves next week, when they take part on an Alpine Survival Course.

Two courses will be run over the period August 29 to September 9 at Temple Basin in Arthur's Pass.

Thirty-eight aircrew will take part in the training, which is being run by the RNZAF's Survival School in conjunction with Antarctica New Zealand.

Four highly qualified civilian instructors from Antarctica New Zealand will augment those from the RNZAF Survival School.

Among the people taking part in the course will be aircrew likely to be deployed to Antarctica later this year on the C-130 Hercules.

The course will cover all aspects of Cold Weather Survival relevant to polar or high mountain environments anywhere in the word.

Course members will be taught the art of constructing snow shelters such as snow caves and igloos; they will then be expected to endure a night out in their constructions.

Other aspects of the course will focus on understanding the terrain, forced landing scenarios and using survival equipment.

ENDS

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