Need for a blue-ice or compacted-snow
Need for a runway to support construction
runway at McMurdo
activities at the South Pole Station
Currently, wheeled aircraft fly to and from
Another need for a blue-ice or compacted-snow
McMurdo Station between October and early
runway is to facilitate the transport of construc-
December when a hard-surfaced, annual sea-ice
tion materials that would be needed for any
runway is available. At other USAP sites on the
reconstruction or replacement of the South Pole
continent, including the South Pole Station, ski-
Station within the next ten years. Although the
equipped aircraft land on prepared skiways. When
reconstruction or replacement of the South Pole
the McMurdo annual sea-ice runway is shut down
Station would be addressed in detail in separate
in December, fixed-wing aircraft support is re-
environmental documentation, the development
stricted to a limited number of ski-equipped air-
of a blue-ice or compacted-snow runway to sup-
craft owned or chartered by USAP. The USAP
port this action is addressed in this IEE. Use of
currently owns six ski-equipped LC-130s and may
LC-130s for transporting construction materials
charter two additional ski-equipped LC-130s from
could significantly reduce their availability to sup-
the Air National Guard, that usually are available
port the science program at the South Pole and
in November and January. In addition, USAP may
elsewhere.
charter one or two Twin Otters (or similarly
equipped aircraft) to support science projects
Need for runways to support
and provide other types of support (for example,
field camps or enhance safety
reconnaissance surveys).
Other blue-ice runways may be developed by
From December through February, LC-130s are
USAP to provide 1) alternative landing sites for
used to provide both intercontinental air trans-
wheeled aircraft if the sea-ice runway at McMurdo
port between New Zealand and McMurdo and
is shut down by poor weather conditions, 2) a
intracontinental support to the South Pole and
refueling site for wheeled aircraft flying from
field sites beyond the range of helicopter opera-
South America to McMurdo, or 3) logistic sup-
tions. The small number of large ski-equipped
port bases for future science projects. The need
aircraft available limits both the amount of sci-
for such sites would be defined to enhance safety,
ence that can be supported in January and
to make the best use of the limited LC-130 assets,
February and the program's flexibility in accom-
and to limit the number of flights required.
modating unanticipated needs.
A blue-ice or compacted-snow runway near
McMurdo that would operate in late January
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
through February would allow wheeled aircraft
to transport personnel leaving Antarctica at the
Alternatives considered in this IEE fall into
end of the austral summer season back to New
three groups, as follows: 1) alternatives for enhanc-
Zealand. Wheeled aircraft would carry more pas-
ing use of wheeled aircraft at McMurdo Station,
sengers per flight and would require fewer trips
2) alternatives for improving air logistics support
than would LC-130s. By using wheeled aircraft at
to the South Pole Station, and 3) alternatives for
McMurdo late in the season, LC-130s that are
improving wheeled aircraft support to USAP
currently used to redeploy personnel to New
activities elsewhere on the continent. These three
Zealand would be available to provide additional
groups of alternatives are discussed in the fol-
support for science at the South Pole Station and
lowing sections.
field sites. If more research were to take place on
a continuous, year-round basis, the capability to
Enhancement of wheeled aircraft
land aircraft at McMurdo year-round would be a
capabilities near McMurdo Station
major advantage in terms of safety. Year-round
Actions considered in this section include 1)
access is not being considered by USAP at this
the proposed action of developing a blue-ice or
time. If it should be deemed feasible in the future,
compacted-snow runway at the Pegasus site near
USAP would conduct additional environmental
McMurdo Station (Fig. B2); and 2) the no-action
review to assess the potential environmental im-
alternative of continuing the current practice of
pacts and would prepare appropriate documen-
using a combination of a sea-ice runway and ski-
tation.
way at McMurdo.
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