Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway

Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway
Ilyushin Il-76 at Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway
IATA: UGL ICAO: SCGC
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Fisco
Operator	Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions LLC
Serves	Union Glacier Camp
Location	Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica
Elevation  AMSL	2,461 ft / 750 m
Coordinates	79°46′40″S83°19′15″W / 79.77778°S 83.32083°W / -79.77778; -83.32083
Map
Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway Location of airfield in Antarctica
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 18/36 9,842x 164 3,000x 50 [1] Blue ice
Certified by DGAC Chile in 2008.

Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway( IATA : UGL, ICAO : SCGC) is the blue ice runway ^[2] for Union Glacier Camp in Antarctica. It is located in the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains, on the glacier that gives it its name. It is operated by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC (ALE), a company that provides expedition support and tours to the interior of Antarctica. ^{[3] [4]} It is one of the few places on the continent where heavy intercontinental wheeled aircraft can land on naturally occurring glacial ice. ^[5]

The runway was certified by the Chilean Directorate General of Civil Aviation in December 2008. ^[6]

History

Patriot Hills transition

For over two decades, the primary entry point for private Antarctic travel was the Patriot Hills Base Camp, located 70 kilometers southeast of Union Glacier. The Patriot Hills runway was prone to severe crosswinds that frequently delayed flights for weeks. ^[7] In 2006, ALE began searching for a more reliable site, identifying the Union Glacier area for its superior wind alignment. ^[8]

Between 2006 and 2010, extensive meteorological and glaciological surveys, including ground-penetrating radar, were conducted to ensure the safety of the new site. ^[9] The first successful landings of the Ilyushin Il-76 at Union Glacier occurred in December 2009, and by November 2010, the main base of operations was officially transferred from Patriot Hills to Union Glacier. ^[10]

Certification

The runway was officially certified as a "Public Aerodrome" by the Chilean Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) in December 2008. ^[11] This status provides a unique regulatory framework where the aerodrome is public-owned but maintained and operated by a private entity. ^[12]

Glaciology

Map showing the location of the Union Glacier and Heritage Range

The runway is situated in a "Blue Ice Area" (BIA), where the net loss of snow through sublimation and wind scour exceeds accumulation. ^[13] Strong katabatic winds flowing from the polar plateau funnel through the Heritage Range, scouring away snow to expose dense, bubble-free glacial ice. ^[14]

This ice has a density of approximately 917 kg/m³, providing sufficient compressive strength to support the weight of wide-body jets. ^[15] Because the runway is located on a dynamic glacier, it flows at a rate of several meters per year, requiring the runway coordinates and GPS approach markers to be updated regularly. ^[16]

Operations

Aviation

The runway (18/36) is 3,000 meters (9,842 ft) long and 50 meters (164 ft) wide, capable of accommodating Code 4E aircraft. ^[1]

Ilyushin Il-76: This Soviet-designed cargo jet is used for its rugged landing gear and high payload capacity. ^[17]

Commercial Jets: On November 26, 2015, the first commercial passenger jet, a Boeing 757, landed at Union Glacier. ^{[18] [19] [20] [21]} In November 2021, ALE introduced the Boeing 767-300ER to the route.

Feeder Fleet: Intra-continental travel is handled by ski-equipped aircraft, including the DHC-6 Twin Otter and the Basler BT-67. ^[22]

Union Glacier Camp

The seasonal camp houses up to 70 guests and 100 staff between November and January. ^[23] The camp utilizes solar power for communication and scientific equipment during the 24-hour austral summer daylight. ^[24]

Environmental management

Operations at Union Glacier follow a "Leave No Trace" policy in accordance with the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. ^[25] All solid waste, including human waste, is containerized and flown back to Chile for disposal. ^[26]

Activities and science

The runway is the staging point for several notable activities like mountaineering: It is the primary gateway for climbers attempting to summit Mount Vinson. ^[27] , Athletics: The camp hosts the annual Antarctic Ice Marathon. ^[28] or Science: The facility supports projects like POLENET, which monitors glacial isostatic adjustment. ^[29]

See also

• List of airports in Antarctica
• Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions
• Heritage Range

References

1. "IFIS: Internet Flight Information Service". Directorate General of Civil Aviation (Chile). Archived from the original on 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
2. Initial environmental evaluation – development of blue-ice and compacted-snow runways Archived 2021-03-19 at the Wayback Machine , National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs, April 9, 1993
3. "Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions". Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
4. Polar Conservation Organization
5. Initial environmental evaluation (PDF) (Report). National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs. April 9, 1993. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
6. "Autoriza funcionamiento del Aeródromo Público "Unión Glaciar" XIIa" (PDF) (in Spanish). 2008-12-26. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
7. Mellor, Malcolm (1988). "Airfield Site Selection in Antarctic Blue Ice Areas". CRREL Report. 88 (19).
8. "Our History". Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
9. Rivera, Andres (2010). "Blue ice and runway suitability at Union Glacier". Geophysical Research Letters. 37.
10. "ANTARCTIC LOGISTICS & EXPEDITIONS ADVENTURE NETWORK INTERNATIONAL" (PDF). Adventure Network International. 2010-11-10. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
11. "Autoriza funcionamiento del Aeródromo Público "Unión Glaciar" XIIa" (PDF) (in Spanish). DGAC Chile. 2008-12-26. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
12. "Reglamento de Aeródromos". Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
13. Bintanja, R. (1999). "The surface energy balance of Antarctic snow and blue ice". Journal of Applied Meteorology. 38 (2): 222–240.
14. Parish, T. R. (1988). "Surface winds over the Antarctic ice sheets". Reviews of Geophysics. 26 (1): 169–180.
15. Cuffey, K. M.; Paterson, W. S. B. (2010). The Physics of Glaciers. Academic Press.
16. Rivera, A.; Bown, F. (2013). "Recent ice-velocity and surface-elevation changes of Union Glacier". Antarctic Science. 25 (5): 681–690.
17. "10 Things to Know about the Ilyushin-76TD" . Retrieved 2024-05-20.
18. Wicks, Leslie (November 26, 2015). "Boeing 757 Lands at Union Glacier". antarctic-logistics.com. Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
19. "First Boeing 757 Airliner Landing On Blue Ice Runway In Antarctica". Aviator.aero. Aviator. November 26, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
20. Hofmann, Kurt (November 30, 2015). "Loftleidir Icelandic 757 lands at Union Glacier, Antarctica". Aviation Week Network. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
21. Rosen, Eric (November 30, 2015). "A Passenger Plane Lands in Antarctica". Outside Online. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
22. "Antarctic Air Transport". Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
23. "Union Glacier Camp". Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
24. "Union Glacier Camp". antarctic-logistics.com. Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
25. "Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty". Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
26. "Environmental Commitment". Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
27. "Mount Vinson Climb". Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
28. "Antarctic Ice Marathon Official Site" . Retrieved 2024-05-20.
29. "POLENET: Polar Earth Observatory Network" . Retrieved 2024-05-20.