Before the Flight
Crew, passengers, and cargo being transferred to Antarctic territory must prove to national health authorities that they have met the requirements needed to visit Antarctica. To this end, a health inspection will be carried out in accordance with guidelines established for passengers and crew the day before the flight.
If health authorities determine that crew, passengers, and/or cargo do not comply with the defined health requirements, they will not be authorized to board the aircraft. Before the flight, you must complete the “affidavit for travelers to prevent coronavirus” form (www.c19.cl) and keep the QR Code in your phone to be scanned. This code lasts for 24 hrs.
Check In
• There are floor stickers to indicate safe distances in the queue.
• Our desk team will be wearing personal protective equipment (face mask and gloves). All passengers must also wear face masks. We offer “travel hygiene kits” if passengers do not have their own.
• All passengers and crew will pass through the “Chilean Health Department” for a temperature check and QR Code scan (temperatures must not be over 37.5 °C).
• Luggage is sprayed and disinfected with Amonio Cuaternario before passing through the counter belt and entering the aircraft.
• Check in desks have been fitted with protective antimicrobial screens.
Boarding
• Passengers will embark through the aircraft’s rear door.
• If possible, passengers will sit with open seats in between for physical distance.
• Mask are to be kept on at all times in the airport, during boarding and on board.
• Before boarding, passengers will walk through a foot bath, located beneath the aircraft stairs, to remove germs.
• To maintain safe distances, boarding will take place in small groups.
• On board, the Cabin Crew will be in full personal protective equipment.
During the Flight
• Lavatory use is restricted to mitigate contact among passengers and crew. We encourage passengers to use airport toilets before departing.
• Only the rear toilet will be available for emergencies. The front toilet will be reserved for crew members.
• Lavatories are frequently disinfected by crew members during the flight.
• During the flight, air in our RJ100 aircraft cabins is cleaned with HEPA air filters, which remove 99.9% of viruses. Remaining aircrafts operate under a system of regular air flow with no special filters.
Arrival
• Disembark through the rear door.
• To keep a safe distance, disembark in small groups.
• When leaving the aircraft, you will walk along a foot bath, which is located beneath the aircraft stairs, to remove germs.
• After every flight, our aircrafts go through a deep cleaning and disinfection process, sanitizing the passenger cabin, including tray tables, seats, seatbelts, overhead bins, washrooms, cargo bay, and all surfaces.
Cargo circulation protocol in KGI (King George Island)
• Plane lands at KGI.
• A clear cargo manifest with detailed information about the two airplane holds is assembled beforehand.
• Planes will be unloaded onto a designated vehicle. A designated person from the sanitization team will receive the entire load (colossus), organize it, and sanitize it (the sanitization group will move the load with their own clothing due to COVID-19 security issues).
• Sanitized cargo and luggage will then be delivered to a location where staff, following security protocols, will handle the delivered cargo.
Arriving Passenger Circulation Protocol at KGI
• Planes will land in KGI.
• Passengers, in masks and gloves, getting off the plane will step through a foot bath.
• Ideally, the first people to disembark will be the person in charge of fuel / the person in charge of aircraft holds / the group manager (to coordinate safe passenger areas on the Charlie Platform)
• Passengers that are getting off of a plane must go to the designated safe area on platform “C” (Charlie), supervised by DAP staff.
• Once the Control Tower has given the authorization to cross from “C” to “M” (Mike) with our staff, the group manager is informed to start walking with passengers in a single file line.
• Upon arrival to the beach on the Russian side of the bay, boat staff will manage the climb to the zodiac and then to the boat.
Departing Passenger Circulation Protocol at KGI
• Confirmation of flight take-off from Punta Arenas
• Thirty minutes before landing, passengers must be on the beach on the Russian side of the bay.
• On the Russian side of the bay’s beach, vehicles will be ready to transfer passengers. At the same time, our staff will supervise the transfer of all passengers to Platform Charlie.
• At the time of landing, passengers must be on the Mike Platform.
• Once passengers arriving at King George Island cross from Charlie to Mike, departing passengers can cross from Mike to Charlie.
• When all of the departing passengers are on the Charlie Platform safe area, the plane crew will confirm boarding.
Fuel Loading Protocol in KGI
• When a plane lands, a fuel truck is waiting on the platform.
• Personnel from the maintenance department will be in charge of the entire fuel loading process.
Considerations to have on King George Island
• Wear gloves and a mask at all times.
• Maintain a distance of 5 feet (1.5 meters) at all times
• Do not stop under any circumstances when walking between platforms (runway)
• Always stay with the group. It is forbidden to enter or approach surrounding scientific bases