Jack F. Paulus Skiway

Jack F. Paulus Skiway
The South Pole cargo crew unloads passengers from an LC-130. In order to prevent lubricating oil, hydraulic fluids and fuel from freezing, the engines are kept running while the plane is on the ground.
Summary
Serves Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station
Location South Pole, Antarctica
Elevation AMSL 9,300 ft / 2,835 m
Coordinates 89°59′22″S 1°0′0″W / 89.98944°S 1.00000°W / -89.98944; -1.00000
Map
Jack F. Paulus Skiway
Location of airfield in Antarctica
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
02/20 12,000 3,658 Snow

The Jack F. Paulus Skiway is an airport located at Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station at the South Pole.

The station has a runway for aircraft (ICAO: NZSP), 3658 m / 12000 ft long. Between October and February, there are several flights per week of ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft from McMurdo to supply the station. Additionally, Kenn Borek Air Twin Otters and DC-3s visit the base in support of science and logistics. Resupply missions are collectively termed Operation Deep Freeze.

Dimensional cargo capacity of the Hercules aircraft must be considered for all of the station's logistical support. Large scientific experiments and structures such as the new station are broken down into modular pieces and reassembled on-site. Limitations and cost of the Hercules aircraft have been cited by the National Science Foundation as one of the main reasons for the McMurdo-South Pole traverse over-ice ground supply route.

See also

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