McMurdo Consolidated Airfields Study: Phase I, Basis of Design

• Main Authors: Haehnel, Robert B, Bjella, Kevin, Knuth, Margaret A, Barna, Lynette
• Other Authors: ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER HANOVER NH COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Terminal Flight Facilities; *ANTARCTIC REGIONS; *FEASIBILITY STUDIES; *LANDING FIELDS; AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE; COSTS; ROSS SEA; SAFETY; SEA ICE; AIR OPERATIONS; AIRFIELDS; CONSOLIDATION; MCMURDO STATION; PEGASUS RUNWAY; SEA ICE RUNWAY; SINGLE AIRFIELD COMPLEX; US ANTARCTIC PROGRAM; WILLIAMS FIELD; Antarctic; Austral; Ice Runway; McMurdo Sound; McMurdo Station; Ross Ice Shelf; Ross Sea; Williams Field; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Shelf; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA576164; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA576164

The US Antarctic Program has an air support system that includes as many as three airfields, the Sea Ice Runway, Williams Field, and Pegasus Runway, to support air operations into and out of McMurdo Station, Antarctica (MCM). These airfields are located on sea ice, snow and glacial ice on the McMurdo Sound, and the Ross Ice Shelf. The airfields are configured to support both wheeled and ski-equipped aircraft during the Austral summer from late August until early March. This study explores the feasibility of consolidating air operations at MCM to a single airfield complex (SAC). This should improve airfield operation efficiency by reducing cost and redundancy of facilities and personnel across simultaneously operating multiple airfields. As part of this study, a conceptual design for a SAC is proposed. Our work shows that implementation of a SAC is feasible and can likely be provided for the same cost or less than existing operations. However, more detailed design in the areas of 1) runway location and configuration, 2) fuel delivery, 3) potable water supply, 4) waste handling, and 5) updating of contingency plans for adverse and warm weather need to be provided. The original document contains color images.