Photo By Staff Sgt. Jocelyn Tuller | A LC-130 Hercules assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing flies over Parsons Lake,...... read more read more
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INUVIK, Canada - Airmen from the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing have landed a LC-130 Hercules on fresh water ice for the first time in the wing’s history during Operation Nanook-Nunalivut, Inuvik, Canada, March 5, 2025.
The ski landing control officer, Maj. Joseph Shanahan, and a team initially searched over 25,000 miles of ice along the coast of the Northwest Territories, but none of it met the requirements needed for the LC-130 Hercules to land.
Undeterred, the team expanded their search to lakes throughout the area of operations in Inuvik. There, they found Parsons Lake.
The Polar Camp Skiway Team (PCST), made up of 109th Airlift Wing members and members from the 123rd and 133rd Airlift Wings, set up their Arctic Camp and got to work building the ski landing area on Parsons lake.
"With the 123rd Kentucky and 133rd Minnesota Contingency Response Team bringing expertise in flagging and surveying, and the 109th PCST
contributing specialized Arctic skills, we were able to build the ski landing area in one day,” said Master Sgt. Nick Cross, a member of the PCST.
“We were grooming the ski landing area from sunrise to sunset everyday to ensure it was ready for the LC-130 to land,” said Master Sgt. Casey Preyer-Blakney, a PCST member.
The PCST set up their camp and built a ski landing area, with the assistance of the Canadian CC-138 Twin Otter from the 440 Transport Squadron, CH-147F Chinook helicopters from the 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, and CH-146 Griffon helicopters from the 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron and 417th Combat Support Squadron.
The aircraft from the Canadian Forces were able to land on the ice to deliver supplies and airmen to the Arctic Camp.
It took 17 flights utilizing the Canadian aircraft to drop 23,000 pounds of cargo and personnel at the Arctic Camp.
The 109th flew eight missions during the operation and provided rapid resupply, transporting parts for the CC-138 Twin Otter from Yellowknife back to Inuvik.
"The service members participating in this operation excel in the toughest conditions, adapting quickly to changing plans and unpredictable weather,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Sala, the 109th deployed commander. “From repairing planes in freezing temperatures to testing ice under relentless pressure, they push forward with determination—no mission is left incomplete.”
“We come together and operate, to learn from each other's abilities to find ways to combine our knowledge to make a stronger force,” said Lt. Col. Steve Thompson, 440 Transport Squadron, the Air Task Force Commander of Operation Nanook-Nunalivut. “The interoperability between the Twin Otter and LC-130 Hercules in the past has proven to be a very successful combination and we look forward to working together again in the future.”
Landing LC-130s on fresh water ice opens up significant tactical and strategic opportunities, especially in remote and Arctic regions. By utilizing lakes as landing zones, the military gains access to areas otherwise inaccessible by conventional aircraft, enhancing operational flexibility, explained Sala.
Having this capability allows for rapid deployment of personnel, equipment, and supplies to critical locations, in regions where traditional runways are unavailable. Additionally, it enables quicker response times for Arctic operations, increasing the overall effectiveness of airlift missions in austere environments.
“We are excited to see what the future holds for the LC-130 Hercules and 109th Airlift Wing as we continue to evolve our capabilities in the Arctic,” Sala said.
The LC-130’s flown by the 109th Airlift Wing are the largest tactical aircraft in the world with the ability to land on snow and ice using skis.
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2025 19:38 |
| Story ID: | 492301 |
| Location: | INUVIK, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CA |
| Web Views: | 590 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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