vehicles are plugged in to keep their fluids,
ski mounted so that it minimizes snow drift prob-
including fire-fighting liquids, warm. The gen-
lems and can be removed from the site when not
erator has its own 1800-L (500-gal.) fuel tank.
needed. Likewise, it should be situated on site so
The primary fuel tank on-site at Pegasus is a
as to not interfere with other logistics operations,
75,000-L (20,000-gal.) steel vessel mounted above
minimize snowdrifts, be well out of the exclu-
a containment tray. The tank is towed empty to
sion zone, and be accessible for cargo handling
the site shortly before the beginning of flight op-
equipment. Should such a facility be needed at
erations and it is supplied with JP-8 (the single
Pegasus, we recommend that it be situated imme-
fuel used in McMurdo for everything except a
diately north of the crash/fire vehicle parking
few gasoline-powered engines) from 19,000-L
area (Fig. 82).
(5000-gal.) sled-mounted tankers pulled by trac-
In the event that facilities need to be perma-
tor from Williams Field. A pipeline connects Wil-
nently left in the vicinity of a glacial ice runway,
liams Field with the large fuel storage tanks on
they should be moved or sited so as to minimize
Ross Island. A portable filter, pump, and hose
snow drifting or ablation problems. Ideally, they
system are used to transfer fuel from the 75,000-L
could be placed on top of a "winter berm" as is
(20,000-gal.) tank to aircraft. A backup pump and
done with many mobile pieces at Williams Field.
hose system is recommended in the event of a
Such a berm could be built up by bulldozer in the
malfunction during aircraft fueling to avoid de-
accumulation zone a short distance from the run-
lays since the Pegasus site is so remote. The tank
way to avoid any possible drift impingement on
is situated about 45 m (150 ft) off the edge of the
the runway, ramp, and usual facilities sites. The
ramp area and is about 150 m (500 ft) to the north
berm should probably be aligned east-west, per-
of the runway threshold. Although having the
pendicular to the storm winds, and be about 1.5
tank located a greater distance from the runway
m above the surrounding snow surface. The length
would be ideal, the current physical arrangement
and width would be dictated by the number and
of the ramp and runway area (Fig. 82) does not
size of facilities and equipment parked there for
allow it to be farther away.
the off-season. The closest position would be to
A separate sled-mounted tank (approximately
the east and north of the runway. Although this
15,000-L or 4000-gal. capacity) is on-site to supply
increases the risk of losing these facilities and
maintenance equipment with fuel. It is refilled as
equipment should the ice shelf calve, this risk is
necessary by traveling back to Williams Field.
probably not much different than it would be for
This tank is brought to the site when maintenance
storing them at Williams Field, which is currently
operations begin early in the season (September)
about the same distance from the ice edge but in
and remains until all of the facilities are removed
an area of the ice shelf that is moving consider-
at the end of the flight operations window. To
ably faster.
avoid having to pump fuel, this tank is parked on
a snow berm about 3 m (10 ft) above the natural
snow surface, thus allowing for gravity feed. The
EMERGENCY PROVISIONS
berm is built up with a bulldozer early in the
season and is situated some 50 m (160 ft) north of
At sites that are remote from the main camp,
the buildings on-site to avoid drift problems. A
such as the Pegasus runway, it is advisable to
pathway to the tank is kept clear with on site
have emergency provisions in place. This should
maintenance equipment (snowblower, grader, and
include survival training of the on-site personnel
drags).
(runway manager and maintenance crew) as well
In some circumstances, a building for warm
as those who will frequent the site (cargo and
storage and staging of cargo may be necessary.
passenger handlers, crash/fire crews, weather ob-
Currently, this is not required at Pegasus, since
servers, etc.). As a minimum, food, water (or snow-
cargo labeled "do not freeze" is usually loaded on
melting supplies), and sleeping bags should be
LC-130s at Williams Field. The aircraft then hop
present for several days for close to the maximum
over to Pegasus to take on passengers or fuel and
number of persons expected to be at the site at
take off on wheels. If necessary, such a storage
any time. In addition, first-aid kits and hand-held
building would require a large overhead door to
radios should be available in an emergency. Ob-
facilitate forklifts and loaders to maneuver
viously, the more remote the site, the greater the
palletized loads. The building should ideally be
quantity of supplies to be cached.
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