Blue ice runway

A blue ice runway is a runway constructed in Antarctic areas with no net annual snow accumulation, so that the resultant ice surface is capable of supporting aircraft landings using wheels instead of skis. They are intended to make transferring materials to research stations simpler, since wheeled aircraft can carry much heavier loads than those which are ski-equipped. [cite web |url=http://www.southpolestation.com/trivia/history/blueice.html |title=Blue Ice Runways in Antarctica |accessdate=2008-09-22 |work=Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station]

Blue ice runways were purposed as way of streamlining transport to the interior. Previously, most heavy materials had to be brought by ship, then ferried inland by smaller aircraft equipped with skids. By using large wheeled aircraft to fly directly into the interior, time and money could be saved. In particular, they allow for rare medical evacuations to take place year round.

Because of the nature of ice, planes tend to brake by reverse thrust of the propellers, as opposed to traditional means. Runways are often several miles in length.

ee also

* McMurdo Sound
* Sea ice runway
* Transportation in Antarctica
* Williams Field
* Patriot Hills
* Novolazarevskaya Station

References

External links

* [http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/stis1993/opp93103/opp93103.txt Nation Science Foundation environmental review of blue ice and snow runways]