Sky Blu

Sky Blu is a forward operating station for the British Antarctic Survey located in southern Palmer Land, Antarctica. It is in an area of blue ice, an extremely hard and dense ice which has lost the air bubbles that normally cloud the ice. It provides a runway able to accommodate wheeled aircraft that are larger than can be handled by other types of runways in the area.

For the DJ of the same name, see Sky Blu (rapper).

Sky Blu
Logistics and air facility
Sky Blu Melon hut and ancillary facilities, taken on approach to the runway. The hut and facilities are located about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from the runway, pictured top left.
Sky Blu
Location of Sky Blu in Antarctica
Coordinates: 74°51′23″S 71°35′13″W
Country United Kingdom
Location in AntarcticaPalmer Land
Antarctica
Administered byBritish Antarctic Survey
Establishedcirca 1997 (1997)
Elevation
1,435 m (4,708 ft)
Population
 • Total
  • Up to 6
Time zoneUTC-3 (ART)
TypeSeasonal
PeriodSummer
StatusOperational
Facilities
  • Two fiberglass modules
Websitewww.antarctica.ac.uk

The facility is used to store fuel drums and field equipment for onward transport by the Twin Otter aircraft. The camp is staffed by a minimum of 2, but usually 3 people, including a mechanic. Staff eat and sleep in a Melon hut, but there is also a garage and other tents.

History

It was first located by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in 1993-94 and rapidly became an essential tool in BAS's ability to operate further south. This is mainly because the Blue Ice runway is able to accommodate wheeled aircraft. BAS can therefore fly its Dash-7 4-engined plane from Rothera directly to Sky Blu. The Dash has a much higher load carrying capability than the Twin Otters also used by BAS.

Sky Blu became fully operational in the 1997-98 field season, and has had an increase in use by BAS ever since. The old field camp at Sky-Hi Nunataks was abandoned soon after, with the weather station finally being removed in November 2004.

The Melon hut

Accommodation for the on-site staff is in a fiberglass hut known as a Melon hut, with several support tents for supplies and equipment such as tractor units and fuel. The Melon hut is approximately 15 by 9 feet (4.6 m × 2.7 m) and roughly the shape of a melon, hence the name. The hut is painted red for visibility.[1][2]

Sky Blue Skiway
Sky Blue Skiway
Summary
Airport typePrivate
OperatorBritish Antarctic Survey
LocationEllsworth Land
Time zone(UTC-3)
Elevation AMSL4,708 ft / 1,435 m
Coordinates74°51′23″S 71°35′13″W
Map
Sky Blue Skiway
Location of airfield in Antarctica
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
14/32 3,960 1,207 Blue Ice

The blue ice runway is groomed by the camp staff using commercial lightweight snow ploughs and blowers which could be shipped in by Dash 7 aircraft. When the wind is favourable, and the conditions good, a runway 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) in length and 50 metres (160 ft) wide is possible. However, operations are often hampered by much lighter winds causing knee high snow drifts which reduce contrast. The runway is marked by flags to improve contrast for approaching planes.

See also

References
  1. The Melon Hut at Sky Blu
  2. The basic Melon Hut
  3. "Sky Blu Skiway". Airport Nav Finder. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
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