At the South Pole? A 2011 midwinter airdrop of emergency medical supplies was treated as a big deal; when did it become routine?

It was routine up until IIRC 1996-1999 (which lines up with when they switched over from Navy to National Guard operation).

You sure we don't have an austral winter/calendar winter misunderstanding here?

The source I remember was specifically criticising the media coverage of the later one.

I find that a weird comment when he just explained why it was hard.