This article is about the airfield in Antarctica. For the former United States Air Force base, see Williams Air Force Base.
Williams Field or Willy Field (ICAO: NZWD) is a United States Antarctic Program airfield in Antarctica. Williams Field consists of two snow runways located on approximately 8 meters (25 ft) of compacted snow, lying on top of 8–10 ft of ice,[3] floating over 550 meters (1,800 ft) of water.[4] The airport, which is approximately seven miles from Ross Island, serves McMurdo Station and New Zealand's Scott Base. Until the 2009–10 summer season, Williams was the major airfield for on-continent aircraft operations in Antarctica.
Williams Field is named in honor of Richard T. Williams, a United States Navy equipment operator who drowned when his D-8 tractor broke through the ice on January 6, 1956. Williams and other personnel were participants in the first Operation Deep Freeze, a U.S. military mission to build a permanent science research station at McMurdo Station in anticipation of the International Geophysical Year 1957–58.
The skiway was typically in operation from December through to the end of February. Other McMurdo Station airfields include the Ice Runway (October to December) and Phoenix Airfield.[5]
The Williams Field snow runway is known locally as "Willy's Field".[6] The airfield is a groomed snow surface that can support ski-equipped aircraft landings only.[5] A cluster of facilities for flight operations, referred to as "Willy Town", includes several rows of containers for workers and a galley. Willy Field Tavern, a bar at the airfield, closed in 1994.[7]
Air Traffic Control services are provided by Williams Tower / Approach (Willie Tower), and by McMurdo Center (Mac Center) when the tower is closed.[5] The McMurdo Weather Office provides weather forecasting for Williams Field while onsite Controllers and Weather Observers provide hourly and special weather observations.[5]
Aviation fuel at Williams Field is pumped in a 16 km (10 mi) flexible pipe from McMurdo Station. Fuel is stored in up to 12 tanks. The fuel tanks, like other structures at the airfield, are mounted on skis or runners for portability.[8] Generator and heating fuel is delivered to the station by fuel trucks from McMurdo Station, with fuels stored at the individual structures.
The extraordinary conditions encountered at Williams Field include the fact that the airfield is in a continuous slow slide towards the sea. Seaward movement of the floating McMurdo Ice Shelf upon which the airfield is constructed has forced Williams Field to be relocated three times since its original construction. Workers last moved the airfield during the 1984–85 season.[9] Subsequently, personnel housed at Williams lived in buildings constructed on sleds to facilitate relocation. In the past, up to 450 people were housed at the airfield, according to the National Science Foundation. In 1994 the National Science Foundation constructed two dorm buildings at McMurdo Station. Transport to Williams Field uses various vehicles including Foremost Delta II and Ford E-350 vans.[10]
Williams Field support structures as seen from the cargo line
1957: Pan American Boeing 377 Stratocruiser makes round trip from Christchurch to McMurdo Sound. First civilian flight to Antarctica.
1960: U.S. Navy WV-2 BuNo 126513 crashes after landing short of the ice runway.[11]
1960: First ski-equipped C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft lands in Antarctica.
1960: Sunspots knock out radio communications for eight days, forcing cancellation of all flights between New Zealand and McMurdo.
1966: First all-jet aircraft (USAF-C-141) lands at Williams.
1967: Earliest scheduled winter fly-in.
1970: U.S. Navy "Pegasus" C-121J crash lands. Aircraft is destroyed but no fatalities among the 80 persons aboard. Pegasus Field is named after this aircraft.
28 November 1956: a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II (52-1015) of the USAF was damaged beyond repair when the nose gear failed on landing. All 17 occupants survived; the plane's parts were used to fix two other Globemasters damaged in accidents at McMurdo earlier that year.[12]
13 September 1957: a Douglas R4D-6L (DC-3) (17274) of the US Navy crashed on takeoff due to water freezing in the fuel lines. There were no fatalities; the plane was written off.[13]
15 February 1971: a Lockheed LC-130F Hercules (148318) of the US Navy crashed on takeoff in poor visibility when the left main ski hit a 5.5 foot snow bank and the right wing hit the ground and broke between engines; the aircraft was destroyed by fire. There were no fatalities. The plane was taking part in Operation Deep Freeze.[14]
^. World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 2012-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Data current as of October 2006. Source: DAFIF.
^Airport information for NZWD at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
^Minneci, Beth (17 December 2000). "There's potential at Pegasus" (PDF). AntarcticSun.USAP.gov. (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
^Antarctic Photo Library at the Wayback Machine (archived 2007-02-22)
^ abcdUS Antarctic Program Interagency Air Operations Manual (PDF) (Report). National Science Foundation. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
^Gundlach, Erich R.; Gallagher, John J.; Hatcher, John; Vinson, Tom (2001). Planning and Hazards of Spill Response in Antarctica. 2001 International Oil Spill Conference - Risk Management. pp. 241–248. doi:10.7901/2169-3358-2001-1-241.
^Berthing at McMurdo for Williams Field, Office of Polar Programs; National Science Foundation. August 19, 1993.
^Stephen F. Nowak (1989). "Resupply at McMurdo Station, Antarctica". Navy Supply Corps Newsletter. Vol. 52, no. 2. p. 2.
^"Navy WV-2 Super Connie Crash at McMurdo Sound in 1960". 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
^"ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-124C Globemaster II 52-1015 McMurdo Station-Williams Field". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
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This article is about the airfield in Antarctica For the former United States Air Force base see Williams Air Force Base Williams Field or Willy Field ICAO NZWD is a United States Antarctic Program airfield in Antarctica Williams Field consists of two snow runways located on approximately 8 meters 25 ft of compacted snow lying on top of 8 10 ft of ice 3 floating over 550 meters 1 800 ft of water 4 The airport which is approximately seven miles from Ross Island serves McMurdo Station and New Zealand s Scott Base Until the 2009 10 summer season Williams was the major airfield for on continent aircraft operations in Antarctica Williams FieldIATA QAWICAO NZWDSummaryAirport typePublicLocationMcMurdo Station AntarcticaElevation AMSL68 ft 21 mCoordinates77 52 03 S 167 03 24 E 77 86750 S 167 05667 E 77 86750 167 05667MapNZWDLocation of airfield in AntarcticaRunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m07 25 10 000 3 048 Snow15 33 10 000 3 048 SnowSource DAFIF 1 2 Williams Field is named in honor of Richard T Williams a United States Navy equipment operator who drowned when his D 8 tractor broke through the ice on January 6 1956 Williams and other personnel were participants in the first Operation Deep Freeze a U S military mission to build a permanent science research station at McMurdo Station in anticipation of the International Geophysical Year 1957 58 Contents 1 Operation 2 Current aircraft in use 3 Historical notes 4 Accidents and incidents 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksOperation edit nbsp nbsp Caterpillar Challenger machines perform constant runway groomingThe skiway was typically in operation from December through to the end of February Other McMurdo Station airfields include the Ice Runway October to December and Phoenix Airfield 5 The Williams Field snow runway is known locally as Willy s Field 6 The airfield is a groomed snow surface that can support ski equipped aircraft landings only 5 A cluster of facilities for flight operations referred to as Willy Town includes several rows of containers for workers and a galley Willy Field Tavern a bar at the airfield closed in 1994 7 Air Traffic Control services are provided by Williams Tower Approach Willie Tower and by McMurdo Center Mac Center when the tower is closed 5 The McMurdo Weather Office provides weather forecasting for Williams Field while onsite Controllers and Weather Observers provide hourly and special weather observations 5 Aviation fuel at Williams Field is pumped in a 16 km 10 mi flexible pipe from McMurdo Station Fuel is stored in up to 12 tanks The fuel tanks like other structures at the airfield are mounted on skis or runners for portability 8 Generator and heating fuel is delivered to the station by fuel trucks from McMurdo Station with fuels stored at the individual structures The extraordinary conditions encountered at Williams Field include the fact that the airfield is in a continuous slow slide towards the sea Seaward movement of the floating McMurdo Ice Shelf upon which the airfield is constructed has forced Williams Field to be relocated three times since its original construction Workers last moved the airfield during the 1984 85 season 9 Subsequently personnel housed at Williams lived in buildings constructed on sleds to facilitate relocation In the past up to 450 people were housed at the airfield according to the National Science Foundation In 1994 the National Science Foundation constructed two dorm buildings at McMurdo Station Transport to Williams Field uses various vehicles including Foremost Delta II and Ford E 350 vans 10 Current aircraft in use editLockheed LC 130 New York Air National Guard Basler BT 67 Kenn Borek Air de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter Kenn Borek AirHistorical notes edit nbsp Williams Field support structures as seen from the cargo line1957 Pan American Boeing 377 Stratocruiser makes round trip from Christchurch to McMurdo Sound First civilian flight to Antarctica 1960 U S Navy WV 2 BuNo 126513 crashes after landing short of the ice runway 11 1960 First ski equipped C 130 Hercules cargo aircraft lands in Antarctica 1960 Sunspots knock out radio communications for eight days forcing cancellation of all flights between New Zealand and McMurdo 1966 First all jet aircraft USAF C 141 lands at Williams 1967 Earliest scheduled winter fly in 1970 U S Navy Pegasus C 121J crash lands Aircraft is destroyed but no fatalities among the 80 persons aboard Pegasus Field is named after this aircraft 1979 Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashes on nearby Mount Erebus 257 people died Accidents and incidents edit28 November 1956 a Douglas C 124C Globemaster II 52 1015 of the USAF was damaged beyond repair when the nose gear failed on landing All 17 occupants survived the plane s parts were used to fix two other Globemasters damaged in accidents at McMurdo earlier that year 12 13 September 1957 a Douglas R4D 6L DC 3 17274 of the US Navy crashed on takeoff due to water freezing in the fuel lines There were no fatalities the plane was written off 13 15 February 1971 a Lockheed LC 130F Hercules 148318 of the US Navy crashed on takeoff in poor visibility when the left main ski hit a 5 5 foot snow bank and the right wing hit the ground and broke between engines the aircraft was destroyed by fire There were no fatalities The plane was taking part in Operation Deep Freeze 14 See also editBlue ice runway Marble Point McMurdo Sound McMurdo Station Pegasus Field Ice Runway List of airports in AntarcticaNotes edit Airport information for NZWD World Aero Data Archived from the original on 2012 09 26 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Data current as of October 2006 Source DAFIF Airport information for NZWD at Great Circle Mapper Source DAFIF effective October 2006 Minneci Beth 17 December 2000 There s potential at Pegasus PDF AntarcticSun USAP gov Archived PDF from the original on 22 December 2017 Retrieved 7 November 2016 Antarctic Photo Library U S Antarctic Program at the Wayback Machine archived 2007 02 22 a b c d US Antarctic Program Interagency Air Operations Manual PDF Report National Science Foundation 16 September 2016 Retrieved 6 November 2021 Lonely Planet Antarctica Lonely Planet 2017 McMurdo Nightlife Retrieved 10 November 2021 Gundlach Erich R Gallagher John J Hatcher John Vinson Tom 2001 Planning and Hazards of Spill Response in Antarctica 2001 International Oil Spill Conference Risk Management pp 241 248 doi 10 7901 2169 3358 2001 1 241 Berthing at McMurdo for Williams Field Office of Polar Programs National Science Foundation August 19 1993 Stephen F Nowak 1989 Resupply at McMurdo Station Antarctica Navy Supply Corps Newsletter Vol 52 no 2 p 2 Navy WV 2 Super Connie Crash at McMurdo Sound in 1960 2005 Retrieved 10 November 2021 ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C 124C Globemaster II 52 1015 McMurdo Station Williams Field aviation safety net Retrieved 2023 08 09 ASN Aircraft accident Douglas R4D 6L DC 3 17274 McMurdo Station Williams Field aviation safety net Retrieved 2023 08 09 ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed LC 130F Hercules 148318 McMurdo Williams Field aviation safety net Retrieved 2023 08 09 References editChange of Command pamphlet U S Naval Support Force Antarctica June 10 1991 Clarke Peter On the Ice Rand McNally amp Company 1966 United States Antarctic Research Program Calendars 1983 1985 Where danger and wonder collide The NewsTribune com Tacoma Wash November 20 2006 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Williams Field Antarctica Aircraft of Antarctica Moving the Airport December 21 1999 List of stratospheric balloon launches under NASA s Long Duration Balloon program Current weather for NZWD at NOAA NWSPortals nbsp Aviation nbsp Transport nbsp Geography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Williams Field amp oldid 1181168741, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
