Glossary

109th Airlift Wing – Division of the New York Air National Guard (ANG) that supports the United States Antarctic Program

Bag Drag – Process of preparing cargo before a flight into Antarctica

Boomerang – A flight that departs and returns to its origin due to bad weather

C-141 Starlifter – U.S. aircraft used to transport passengers to and from Antarctica

Deployment – When an Antarctic participant travels form their origin to the field

Galley – Name for the dining facility, borrowed from the Navy’s vocabulary

Grantee – A scientist who received a grant from the NSF

Mainbody – Period in October when most participants deploy to the Antarctic

Pegasus – Name for the prepared runway on permanent ice near McMurdo Station that operates mainly in late January and February and accommodates wheeled
airplanes

Redeployment – The return of a participant from the field to their point of origin

Twin Otter – Small plane used to transport grantees and equiptment to the field

White out – A weather term to describe a situation where the horizon is not definitive usually due to blowing snow

WINFLY – "Winter fly-in"  The first flights into Antarctica after the winter season, usually starting in August
 

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