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Phoenix Airfield
McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Phoenix Airfield
Antarctica's primary air gateway supporting McMurdo Station operations.
- ›Phoenix Airfield sits on the Ross Ice Shelf and uses a compacted gravel and ice runway surface.
- ›It is capable of handling C-17 Globemaster III heavy jet aircraft, which fly from Christchurch, New Zealand.
- ›The airfield operates primarily during the austral summer (October–February) due to extreme winter conditions.
- ›It is managed by the United States Antarctic Program under the National Science Foundation.
- ›Phoenix Airfield replaced Pegasus Field as the primary wheeled-aircraft facility for McMurdo Station.
Phoenix Airfield serves McMurdo Station, the United States Antarctic Program's primary logistics hub on Ross Island, Antarctica. Operated by the U.S. military and managed under the U.S. Antarctic Program, it supports scientific missions and cargo operations on one of Earth's most remote and hostile continents. The airfield operates seasonally during the Antarctic summer and handles wheeled aircraft on its compacted gravel and ice runway.
- Phoenix Airfield Passenger Terminal — A functional, no-frills facility used exclusively by USAP personnel, scientists, and support staff arriving or departing Antarctica.
- Shuttle vehicles operated by USAP contractors between airfield and McMurdo Station
- Tracked and wheeled military transport vehicles for ice terrain
- Walking access to McMurdo Station for short distances in suitable conditions
- McMurdo Station dormitory housing (USAP-assigned accommodation only)
Dining at McMurdo Station is provided through a central galley facility serving USAP personnel and is not open to the general public. Food options are cafeteria-style and managed by the program's support contractor, covering all meals for station residents. No commercial restaurants or airport concessions exist at or near Phoenix Airfield.
- Access to Phoenix Airfield and McMurdo Station requires authorization through the U.S. Antarctic Program — no independent travel is possible.
- Flights operate seasonally, typically between October and February, and are frequently delayed or cancelled due to extreme weather.
- Passengers are issued Extreme Cold Weather gear before departure from Christchurch, New Zealand, the main gateway city.
- Carry all personal medications and essentials as resupply options on the ice are extremely limited.
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Phoenix Airfield is an airstrip in Antarctica opened in early 2017, designed to replace the Pegasus Field's role in serving McMurdo Station.
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