Ice Runway
Posted by: 
OshnDoc
S 77° 51.193 E 166° 34.344
58C E 536930 N 1357516
The Ice Runwayis the principal runway for the US Antarctic Program during the summer Antarctic field season due to its proximity to McMurdo Station.
Waymark Code: WMCM4P
Location: Antarctica
Date Posted: 09/19/2011
Views: 11
This runway is capable of handling wheeled aircraft, that have included to date: Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Lockheed P-3 Orion.
The annual sea-ice runway for wheeled aircraft is constructed at the start of each season and is used until early December when the sea ice begins to break up. Subsequently flight operations are moved back to Williams Field. Pilots landing C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft on the sea ice runway report that the surface is stable, not unlike landing on concrete. However, the similarity with land bases ends when the jet aircraft rolls to a stop. The nearly 450,000 pound weight of the plane, including cargo and passengers, causes it to sink into the ice, albeit only a matter of inches.
Type of Waymark: Point of Interest
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