Williams Field Skiway

Williams Field Skiway (NZWD), often referred to as "Willy Field," is a critical United States Antarctic Program (USAP) airfield situated on the Ross Ice Shelf, approximately seven nautical miles grid northwest of McMurdo Station, Antarctica. It also serves New Zealand's Scott Base.

Type of Facility and Operations: Williams Field is a public skiway designed exclusively for ski-equipped aircraft operations, making it a major airfield for on-continent flights within Antarctica. The facility consists of two snow runways, each 220 feet (67 meters) wide and 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) long. It operates as a prior-permission-required (PPR) airfield, typically from November or December through the end of February during the Antarctic summer. The airfield is serviced by Transponder Landing System (TLS), Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN), and RNAV (GPS) approaches.

Notable Features and History: The skiway is constructed on approximately 8 meters (25 feet) of compacted snow, overlying 8 to 10 feet of ice, which floats on about 550 meters (1,800 feet) of water. It was commissioned in the late 1950s and is named in honor of Richard T. Williams, a U.S. Navy equipment operator who died when his tractor broke through the ice in 1956 during "Operation Deep Freeze."

A unique characteristic of Williams Field is its location on the Ross Ice Shelf, which moves approximately one foot eastward per day. This movement has necessitated the relocation and rebuilding of the airfield complex multiple times since its original construction, with the last major move occurring during the 1984–85 season. Associated facilities for flight operations, known as "Willy Town," include worker accommodations and a galley, with some structures historically built on sleds to facilitate relocation. Aviation fuel is supplied to Williams Field via a 16 km (10 mi) flexible pipeline from McMurdo Station.

Current Status: Williams Field (NZWD) remains a fully operational and vital component of the USAP's air operations, with its runways and support facilities rebuilt annually. It is one of the primary airfields supporting McMurdo Station and is maintained and operated in accordance with U.S. Air Force standards. As of early 2026, the USAP continues to operate Williams Field as one of its airfield facilities in the McMurdo area.