Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway
Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway is the blue ice runway 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, a company that provides expedition support and tours to the interior of Antarctica. It is one of the few places on the continent where heavy intercontinental wheeled aircraft can land on naturally occurring glacial ice.
The runway was certified by the Chilean Directorate General of Civil Aviation in December 2008.
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. In 2006, ALE began searching for a more reliable site, identifying the Union Glacier area for its wind alignment.Between 2006 and 2010, extensive meteorological and glaciological surveys, including ground-penetrating radar, were conducted to ensure the safety of the new site. 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.
Certification
The runway was officially certified as a "Public Aerodrome" by the Chilean Directorate General of Civil Aviation in December 2008. This status provides a specific regulatory framework where the aerodrome is publicly owned but maintained and operated by a private entity.Glaciology
The runway is situated in a "Blue Ice Area", where the net loss of snow through sublimation and wind scour exceeds accumulation. Strong katabatic winds flowing from the polar plateau funnel through the Heritage Range, scouring away snow to expose dense, bubble-free glacial ice.This ice has a density of approximately 917 kg/m³, providing sufficient compressive strength to support the weight of wide-body jets. 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.
Operations
Aviation
The runway is 3,000 meters long and 50 meters wide, capable of accommodating Code 4E aircraft.Ilyushin Il-76: This Soviet-designed cargo jet is used for its rugged landing gear and high payload capacity.
Commercial Jets: On November 26, 2015, the first commercial passenger jet, a Boeing 757, landed at Union Glacier. 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.