Pituffik, GL 🇬🇱 Closed Airport
GL-0008
-
1664 ft
GL-AV
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 76.4288° N, -68.3378° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Traveler experiences at Camp Tuto Airport (GL-0008), now widely known as Pituffik Space Base (THU) or Thule Air Base, are predominantly from military personnel and contractors due to its restricted access. Overall sentiment is mixed, characterized by a unique and often challenging assignment that fosters strong camaraderie, despite the extreme Arctic environment and isolation. While some individuals have highly positive experiences, others find the conditions difficult to endure for extended periods.
Overall, Pituffik Space Base (Thule Air Base) offers a challenging yet memorable assignment, best suited for individuals who can adapt to extreme conditions and embrace a close-knit community environment. While facilities are functional for a remote military base, the primary "traveler" experience is defined by its isolation, the harsh climate, and the strong sense of camaraderie among those stationed there.
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| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
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| Type | Description | Frequency |
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Late 1960s (approximately 1966-1969)
The airport was closed following the cancellation of the U.S. Army's Project Iceworm and the subsequent abandonment of associated research facilities like Camp Century. The primary military mission for which the camp and its airfield were established had ended, making the facility obsolete. The discovery that the Greenland Ice Sheet was less stable than predicted and would crush the underground tunnels made Project Iceworm unfeasible, leading to its termination in 1966 and the closure of its support infrastructure shortly thereafter.
The site is abandoned and in a state of decay. The runway is no longer maintained or usable, and the area is being reclaimed by the harsh Arctic environment. Remnants of buildings, roads (like the 'Tuto Road' leading from the main base), and other infrastructure are still present but are derelict and scattered. The site is now primarily of historical and environmental interest, with ongoing scientific research into the long-term impacts of the hazardous and radioactive waste left behind from the Cold War-era military activities.
Camp Tuto Airport was a critical logistical hub for top-secret U.S. Army Cold War operations in Greenland. Its primary function was to serve as the gateway to the Greenland Ice Sheet for Project Iceworm, an ambitious plan to build a network of nuclear missile launch sites under the ice. The airport, located at the edge of the ice cap, handled the transport of personnel, heavy machinery, and supplies from the main Thule Air Base (now Pituffik Space Base) to the ice cap. It was instrumental in the construction and support of Camp Century, the famous experimental 'city under the ice' powered by a portable nuclear reactor. The airport was a key site for developing techniques for Arctic construction and operations, supporting both military engineering and scientific research on the ice sheet.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Camp Tuto Airport. Its original strategic purpose is obsolete, the location is extremely remote and inhospitable, and the cost of reconstruction would be prohibitive. Current international and scientific focus regarding the site is on historical preservation, climate change research, and addressing the significant environmental legacy of the abandoned camp, not on its reactivation as an airfield.