Development of a blue-ice runway at Mount Howe

to develop a compacted-snow runway at the South

component of these winds would prevent land-

Pole Station itself. The feasibility of constructing

ings at times. In January 1992, an Automated

such a runway is not clear at this point in time,

Weather Station was installed at Mount Howe to

but the advantages of being able to land wheeled

monitor wind conditions. It is possible that the

aircraft at the South Pole would be enormous.

operational window at Mount Howe will be too

Other alternatives for transporting construc-

small to make it a landing site. Initial reconnais-

tion materials and equipment to the South Pole

sance of the over-snow traverse route from Mount

do not involve development of blue-ice or com-

Howe to the South Pole indicates that the route is

pacted-snow runways and are beyond the scope

potentially crevasse-free and of reasonable slope,

of this IEE. These alternatives include overland

except for one area about 12 km from the Mount

traverse from McMurdo Station, air drops, and

Howe runway site.

use of dirigibles. The no-action alternative would

If the Mount Howe site were developed, facili-

depend on the use of LC-130s to transport all

ties would be built to accommodate a crew of 6

construction materials and equipment.

12 that would operate the airfield, unload the

aircraft, and load the traverse sleds (or tracked

Development of a blue-ice

trailers ) and the members of the traverse crews.

runway at Mount Howe

The Mount Howe runway would operate only

The closest potential blue-ice runway site to

during the austral summer, perhaps from late

the South Pole is at Mount Howe, where the ex-

October through early December. However, other

posed blue-ice surface is suitable as a runway

developments, such as the Pegasus runway, might

with relatively little smoothing. Twin-Otter air-

make it possible to expand the period during

craft have already landed there on wheels. Inten-

which the Mount Howe airfield is operational.

sive summer warming that mandates a protective

Traverses between Mount Howe and the South

cover at the Pegasus site during December and

Pole could continue independent of flights if suf-

January does not occur at Mount Howe. Thus no

ficient cargo is transported to Mount Howe to

annual surface protection measures are necessary

warrant them. Aircraft carrying cargo to Mount

at this site.

Howe could originate at either Christchurch, New

It is expected that wheeled landings can be

Zealand, or McMurdo. In specific situations, sev-

made on a selected area of the natural blue-ice

eral aircraft could land at Mount Howe on a given

surface by lightly loaded LC-130s. Surveys are

day.

being conducted to locate and mark such an area.

Some heavy equipment would be needed at

LC-130s would land there to deliver equipment

Mount Howe to unload aircraft and reload the

to smooth the surface for a longer, smoother per-

traverse sleds (or tracked trailers) rapidly when

manent runway. The equipment would include a

they arrive. A building in which this equipment

towed road brush which, with the help of the

can be stored and maintained would be needed at

wind, would remove any loosened material from

the site. Platforms would be needed for staging

the runway. The only maintenance needed there-

palletized aircraft loads until they are transferred

after should be periodic brushing to dislodge

to sleds (or tracked trailers) to keep the cargo and

patches of snow from the blue-ice surface and the

the staging area from being engulfed in drift snow.

prompt removal of oil and hydraulic fluid that

leaks from aircraft and vehicles.

Development of a blue-ice

In this fashion it is expected that a suitable

runway at Mill Glacier

surface can be formed on which C-130 and C-5

No runway construction activity would be

aircraft could land. It is not yet known if a surface

needed for use of the blue-ice runway at the

can be produced that would allow C-141 aircraft

Plunket Point site on Mill Glacier. Twin-Otter and

to land at Mount Howe. Because the U.S. Air

LC-130s have landed at this site in the past. Op-

Force may not wish to have C-5 aircraft land in

erational requirements and maintenance activi-

such a remote location, it is most likely that C-

ties would be similar to those at Mount Howe.

130s would be used at Mount Howe. While few

Because the Mill Glacier site is farther from the

LC-130 aircraft are available, many C-130s could

South Pole Station than the Mount Howe site (540

be made available by the USAF.

km vs. 300 km), additional fuel storage for traverse

The characteristics of the Mount Howe site do

vehicles would be needed. Cargo transport by

not permit the runway to be aligned with the

tractor train to the South Pole would require more

often strong winds present there. The cross-wind

time and fuel than the traverse from Mount Howe.

105