Runway construction techniques

Wilkins Runway construction Photo: AAD

The Wilkins Runway is constructed out of blue glacial ice and is being capped with a compressed snow pavement. The snow pavement procedure will take several years to complete.

Snow pavement provides protection from melt by reflecting solar radiation as well as providing insulation. The increase in surface friction provided by the snow pavement compared with an ice surface is an additional benefit.

The Wilkins site comprises approximately 70% exposed ice and 30% snow cover that is less than 1m deep. The foundation of the runway is natural glacial ice, rolled with proof rollers to ensure that the surface ice has suitable bearing strength and integrity to support the aircraft.

The runway surface has been trimmed into shape using a laser-guided grader fitted with a serrated cutting blade.

The AAD acknowledges the valuable technical assistance that Mr George Blaisdell, working for both Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory and the United States Antarctic Programme, has provided during the construction of the runway.

For more information see also:

• Specialist equipment
• This Week in Antarctica 20 January 2006: Runway one step closer
• This Week in Antarctica 8 February 2006: How do you build an Antarctic runway?
• This Week in Antarctica 14 October 2006: Deployment to Wilkins