Specialists from Russia commission an airfield for transport aircraft in Antarctica

Specialists of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute together with Zapsibgazprom have commissioned a new snow-ice airfield for receiving heavy transport aircraft at the Progress station in Antarctica, TASS reports.
"This is a truly historic event that will change the work of the entire Russian Antarctic Expedition in many ways. The new runway will allow us to start seasonal work much earlier, including work on the creation of a new wintering complex of the Vostok station," said Alexander Makarov, director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.
The first IL-76TD-90VD aircraft successfully landed at the new Progress airfield on November 7, delivering 82 passengers and 6.6 tons of cargo from Cape Town (South Africa). On the route, the board covered a distance of 5.300 km in 6.5 hours.
The first runway at the Progress station was launched in 2012, but it was capable of receiving only small aircraft, providing flights between stations, as well as the delivery of small cargo and seasonal work participants.

Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished