Scott Base and McMurdo Station - Antarctic Treaty Secretariat

5. OPERATIONS ON THE ROSS ICE SHELF (UNITED STATES)The United States Antarctic Program operates two airfields on the ice shelf adjacent to Ross Island duringsummer. Williams Field is used for ski-equipped C130 operations to Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station andother deep field research sites. Pegasus ice runway is used for inter-continental flights between Christchurch andAntarctica. Another landing zone, known as Odell Glacier, is some 170 kilometres from Ross Island and is usedonly in cases of emergency when weather conditions preclude the use of the regular airfields.In the early part of the summer the sea ice runway is used for all flights as it is substantially closer to McMurdoStation, but is decommissioned each year around mid-December as the sea ice becomes less stable. Operationsthen move onto the ice shelf.The airfields are operated by the United States, with assistance from New Zealand personnel for ground servicesfor aircraft and cargo handling.The Australian observer team visited Williams Field on 23 January 2005 and Pegasus ice runway on 25 January.At the time of our visit Williams Field was some 10 kilometres from Ross Island, and Pegasus runway about 25kilometres away. Connection to Ross Island is via a flagged over-snow route passable by light vehicles. However,much heavier vehicles (for example, Deltas) are used for passenger and cargo movements.The airfields support a combined total of over 400 intra-continental flights and over 100 inter-continental flights.Considerable infrastructure is required to support the aviation operations. Apart from the runway maintenanceand navigation equipment, the Williams Field facility also comprises several structures. These includecommunications, fire fighting and emergency services, power generation, messing and basic accommodation. Thenumber of buildings resembles a modest Antarctic winter station. However, the entire complex is sled-mountedand can be repositioned very quickly, which occurs when the move from the sea ice runway occurs. This movetakes place over a period of two days when the entire “station” is dragged up onto the shelf.Fuel is stored in stainless steel tanks supplied by the over-ice flexible fuel line from Ross Island. Catering isprovided by McMurdo Station and food is trucked out to the airfield. Sewage disposal at Williams Field is intodeep holes drilled into the ice shelf.During the visit of the Australian observer team the Williams Field site was also used as a depot for the equipmentemployed in the proof of concept traverse to the South Pole. The launch equipment for the very high altitudeballoons was also located there.Facilities at Pegasus runway were more limited. Apart from the runway and aircraft maintenance equipment, thereare some emergency vehicles and shelters, a small generator and a modest passenger terminal. Toilet wastes aredrummed and returned to McMurdo.At the time of the visit by the Australian observer team the aircraft on the ground were United States Air Forceaircraft (C17s and C130s) and New York Air National Guard aircraft (C130s). The airfields also support flightsby C130s operated by the New Zealand and Italian Antarctic programmes. There were no private nongovernmentaircraft present.We were advised that in future seasons New Zealand intends to operate a Boeing 757 between Christchurch andPegasus.