Feasibility Report: Operation of Light Air Cushion Vehicle at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.

• Main Author: Dibbern, J S
• Other Authors: ARMY FOREIGN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER CHARLOTTESVILLE VA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1987
• Subjects: Surface Effect Vehicles & Amphibious Vehicles; *AIR CUSHION VEHICLES; ANTARCTIC REGIONS; GROUND EFFECT MACHINES; GROUND VEHICLES; LOGISTICS SUPPORT; PAYLOAD; RECONNAISSANCE; SNOW; STATIONS; TIME; PASSENGER VEHICLES; LIGHTWEIGHT; CARGO VEHICLES; Antarctic; McMurdo Sound; McMurdo Station; Scott Base; Williams Field; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA189057; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA189057

This report explores the viability of the use of an air cushion vehicle (ACV) or hovercraft to perform logistic and scientific support in the area of McMurdo Station, Antarctica. After a review of personnel assets and facilities at McMurdo Station to support the ACV plus a reconnaissance of the five major routes selected, it appears that an air cushion vehicle in the 1 to 1 1/2 tonne payload class would be of significant value to support operations. It would reduce transit times for surface vehicle traverses on the routes selected and reduce requirements for expenditure of helicopter flight time in others. Of major significance is the ability to handle passenger/shuttle requirements between the Scott Base transition and Williams Field Skiway. Use of the ACV for high frequency passenger operations would help preserve the snow road for cargo operations during periods of road deterioration.