First flight of the season lands in Antarctica

Eighteen Kiwis were on board the first flight to Antarctica today. (Supplied)
Eighteen Kiwis were on board the first flight to Antarctica today. (Supplied)

Eighteen Kiwi support staff along with 98 of their American colleagues have landed safely at Scott Base in Antarctica after a 5-hour flight to the ice.

The Kiwi contingent headed down to support New Zealand's science programme at Scott Base with a further 20 Kiwis heading down on a flight from Christchurch tomorrow.

It was the first time on the ice for most of the passengers, who were treated to a welcome party after landing on the Pegasus Runway.

Science teams will being arriving at Scott Base in two weeks for another ambitious research season which will take New Zealand operations across the full expanse of the Ross Dependency.

The 2016/17 Antarctic research season marks 60 years since Sir Edmund Hillary and his team built the Trans-Antarctic Hut, and the New Zealand's Antarctic research programme began.

Scott Base will host more than 350 people from around the world in the next five months ranging from scientists, researchers and engineers.

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