RNZAF used Boeing 757-200 for flights from Christchurch to McMurdo?

[hasegawa]

Here is a point, I can´t verify. Aerosoft sad, that the RNZAF have used it´s Boeing 757-200 sometimes to fly from Christchurch to McMurdo. Is it possible to land at that Ice-Runway in McMurdo with a normal Arliner?

[kestrel]

Yeah they have used it down there, the aussies use there airbus a320 as well
http://www.airforce.mil.nz/nr/exeres/c041d...e030ff6bcf8.htm

[deaneb]

QUOTE (hasegawa @ Nov 26 2011,8:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it possible to land at that Ice-Runway in McMurdo with a normal Arliner?

"Normal" airliner, do you infer there are abnormal airliners flying down there!! LOL


As much as a C17 and a 757 are different beasts, they have similarities as far as operating down there. They both have turbofan engines and wheels! It probably comes down to wheel loading, runway conditions and of course aircarft endurance. As well as the 757 and C130 they have also landed an Orion there, although the Orion does have enough endurance to make a full round trip without landing!

[Ian Warren]

Just add , even the C5 has gone down and landed on the ice shelf and C141 Starlifters were as regular as in every year since 1966 and one in fact cause the first and only real emergency Christchurch airport had when in 1979 crashed onto runway 20 ripping one off its main trucks off closing the runway.

[hasegawa]

Deaneb it was not my intention to tell the rest of the world from "abnormal airliners" . My question was... landing without Ski-Equipment on Ice? For me it was not so clear, that it is possible and normal practise. We in Europe see our airports closed if there is a bit ice at the runway ...

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (hasegawa @ Nov 27 2011,7:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

landing without Ski-Equipment on Ice? For me it was not so clear, that it is possible and normal practise. We in Europe see our airports closed if there is a bit ice at the runway ...

Without ski equipment is regular for the Ice runway ,well groomed and course quite bit more leeway making the runway little wider , its all the same surface .

[deaneb]

QUOTE (hasegawa @ Nov 27 2011,7:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Deaneb it was not my intention to tell the rest of the world from "abnormal airliners" . My question was... landing without Ski-Equipment on Ice? For me it was not so clear, that it is possible and normal practise. We in Europe see our airports closed if there is a bit ice at the runway ...

Sorry I didn't see any reference to ski equipment in your original post! As Ian has pointed out, its perfectly normal operations for non ski equipped aircraft to operate down there on the groomed ice runway.