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.
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.
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.
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 fibreglass 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]
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.
same, name, rapper, forward, operating, station, british, antarctic, survey, located, southern, palmer, land, antarctica, area, blue, extremely, hard, dense, which, lost, bubbles, that, normally, cloud, provides, runway, able, accommodate, wheeled, aircraft, t. For the DJ of the same name see Sky Blu rapper 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 Sky BluLogistics and air facilitySky 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 BluLocation of Sky Blu in AntarcticaCoordinates 74 51 23 S 71 35 13 W 74 856344 S 71 586822 W 74 856344 71 586822 Coordinates 74 51 23 S 71 35 13 W 74 856344 S 71 586822 W 74 856344 71 586822CountryUnited KingdomLocation in AntarcticaPalmer LandAntarcticaAdministered byBritish Antarctic SurveyEstablishedc 1997 1997 Elevation4 708 ft 1 435 m Population TotalUp to 6Time zoneUTC 3 ART TypeSeasonalPeriodSummerStatusOperationalFacilitiesTwo fibreglass modulesWebsitewww antarctica ac ukThe 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 Contents 1 History 2 The Melon hut 3 Sky Blue Skiway 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditIt 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 EditAccommodation for the on site staff is in a fibreglass 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 EditSky Blue SkiwayIATA noneICAO EGATSummaryAirport typePrivateOperatorBritish Antarctic SurveyLocationEllsworth LandTime zone UTC 3 Elevation AMSL4 708 ft 1 435 mCoordinates74 51 23 S 71 35 13 W 74 856344 S 71 586822 W 74 856344 71 586822Map Sky Blue SkiwayLocation of airfield in AntarcticaRunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m14 32 3 960 1 207 Blue Ice 3 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 EditList of Antarctic research stations List of Antarctic field camps Airports in AntarcticaReferences Edit 1 The Melon Hut at Sky Blu 2 The basic Melon Hut Sky Blu Skiway Airport Nav Finder Retrieved 17 October 2018 External links EditBAS Sky Blu Web PagePortals Earth sciences Geography United Kingdom Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sky Blu amp oldid 1060902309, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
