The runway, located at the Pegasus site, was demonstrated in 1993 using an LC-130 aircraft (operating on wheels) and by a conventional C-130 Hercules. Engineering studies began in 1989 and culminated in 1993 in a wheeled runway on the Ross Ice Shelf near McMurdo, specifically for use during the period after the sea ice was no longer usable ( Reference Blaisdell, Lang, Crist, Kurtii, Harbin and FloraBlaisdell and others, 1994). To alleviate this bottleneck, the USAP began development of a runw ay suitable for conventional aircraft use during the latter part of the austral (Southern Hemisphere) summer. Until the 1992–93 season, the USAP was limited solely to ski-equipped aircraft (LC-130 Hercules) for all of its needs from the time the sea-ice runway closed throughout the remainder of the season. This runway is abandoned in mid-December due to strength deterioration. In October, the main contingent of personnel flies to McMurdo in wheeled C-130 Hercules, C-141 Starlifter and C-5 Galaxy aircraft operating off a runway of first-year sea ice. The first flights of the season land on a skiway at Williams Field in late-August using specialized LC-130 Hercules (ski-wheel). The United States Antarctic Program (USAP) relies on aircraft operating between Christchurch, New Zealand, and McMurdo Station, Antarctica, to provide nearly all personnel support and a considerable amount of cargo transport to the continent. The vortices generated by the fence do not dissipate rapidly, providing effective and sustained erosion.
#Vortex generator portable#
The vortex fence was designed to be portable (unlike traditional jet or blower fences) and self-orienting into the wind to allow snow removal regardless of the wind direction. We found that large quantities of excess snow could be removed by use of vortex fences which cause erosion on the leeward side of the fence. The intent of this project was to analyze snow accumulation and to recommend passive methods for removing some of the berm material and snow adjacent to the berm.
After the runway was successfully constructed and supporting routine flight operations, concern developed over the possibility of snow accumulation adjacent to the berm area eventually inundating the runway. The runway was originally constructed on an experimental basis so attention was not focused on developing and executing a snow-removal/accumulation plan. A considerable amount of material remains adjacent to the runway in two north–south extending mounds (berms).
During the construction phase of the Pegasus runway on the McMurdo Ice Shelf, relatively large amounts of snow and ice were cleared to meet basic grade requirements for the runway surface.
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