ice runway
Polar landing strip
An ice runway is a landing strip built on frozen surfaces—sea ice, glaciers, or frozen lakes—used primarily in polar regions where conventional runways are impractical.
These runways serve remote research stations, military outposts, and supply operations in Antarctica and the Arctic.
The cargo plane touched down on the ice runway at McMurdo Station.
Ice runways require careful monitoring of ice thickness and surface conditions, as they can only operate during periods of sustained cold.
- airstripBasic aircraft landing surface
- ski planeAircraft fitted with runners
- AntarcticaSouthernmost continental landmass
- landing zoneDesignated arrival surface
- flight operationsAircraft scheduling and control
permafrost · research station · frost heave · snow grooming · Arctic Circle · emergency landing · frozen tundra · frozen lake · Greenland · snowpack · Siberia · Alaska · meltwater · cryosphere · polar regions · temporary structures · polar expedition · carbon footprint