Flight operations
Full flight operations began from the Pegasus runway on 8 February 1993. LC-
130 aircraft were used to fly cargo from the Pegasus runway to the South Pole
allowing an extra 8,000 lb (3630 kg) of payload by taking off on wheels. A total of
eight flights to the South Pole used the Pegasus runway in 1993, delivering 220,500
lb (100,000 kg) of cargo. The Pegasus runway was also used to fly passengers to
Christchurch with LC-130s operating on wheels and a standard C-130. Passenger
counts of 3050 were thus possible, compared to the usual 1530 when taking off on
skis. Four flights by a standard C-130 were completed with 50 passengers trans-
ported on each trip. A total of 593 passengers and 32,000 lb (14,500 kg) of cargo was
delivered to Christchurch from the Pegasus runway in 1993.
The runway was closely inspected by project engineers following each of the first
15 flights. No damage or wear could be detected and no ice failures occurred.
The 1994 operating season at Pegasus began on 26 January and extended through
27 February. Numerous LC-130 flights (on wheels) were operated in supplying South
Pole station, and a C-130 was operated between Christchurch and Pegasus on an
every-other-day basis, starting around the 1st of February. In all, about 55 flights
used the runway, saving the USAP more than 25 flights because of the heavier loads
that can be carried by wheeled aircraft. Similar operational seasons were achieved
from Pegasus during 1995, 1996, and 1997.
COST AND BENEFITS
The total cost of the Pegasus project is difficult to determine because of the wide
range of resource centers that provided support. For the last two years, the com-
bined records of the Pegasus crew, Williams Field Public Works department, and
CRREL indicate that about 0,000 was spent each year. Over the five-year period,
approximately 17,000 hours of work were expended at the runway for a crew con-
sisting of between two and five persons. Capital equipment purchased specifically
for this project include a grader and snowblower, which were critical to the runway
construction, and other essential equipment such as the proof cart and several snow
planes. In total, we estimate that the Pegasus project cost the National Science Foun-
dation about
||content||
.65 million over the course of the five-year development period.
The cost of the Pegasus runway can be compared to the savings that it generates.
It is difficult to quantify much of the benefit of Pegasus runway; however, we can
cite many factors including reduced wear and tear on airframes, more efficient use
of aircraft and flight crews, less wasted time by science and support personnel wait-
ing for seats on outbound aircraft (Pegasus provides a reliable number of seats for
each flight), enhanced morale (program participants now have confidence in their
redeployment date), assurance of stocking South Pole before station close, increased
efficiency for cargo handlers at South Pole, and timely station closeout despite late
vessel arrival or storms. Access by much of the world's aircraft and the potential for
winter flights are also gained.
One calculation that can easily be made has to do with reduced numbers of flights.
By comparing maximum takeoff weights, we figure that two flights from Pegasus
(wheels) are equal to three from Williams Field (skis). In 1993, 23 flights operated
from Pegasus, and about 55 flights left the runway in 1994. Fifty-five or more flights
used Pegasus during each of the 1995, 1996, and 1997 seasons. Thus, at least 122
xii
Previous Page
