The runway at Rothera is 900 metres long (2,950 ft) and is made of crushed rock.
To the west of the runway lies the aircraft hangar, which houses the Dash-7 and three Twin Otter aircraft protecting them from the harshest weather. Within the shelter of the hangar, aircfraft engineers carry out all the necessary servicing of the aircraft.
To the west also are the bulk fuel storage tanks, which are re-filled from ship each summer. The tank farm is surrounded by a bund wall that would contain the fuel if ever there was a spillage.
Well-equipped workshops are found in the centre of the site. Being in such a remote part of the world we have to be able to maintain all the station buildings, vehicles and equipment without outside help. There is a garage, and separate work areas for electricians, plumbers and builders.
The generator shed houses three Cummins engines that produce the stations electrical power need. In recent years improved management and use of new technologies have allowed us to reduce our overall electrical demand. There is currently a study into the use of suitable renewable energy sources compatible with the Antarctic environment and endemic wildlife.
Our water supply is provided through the use of ‘reverse osmosis’ filtration technology to convert sea water into potable fresh water. In the past, fresh water was produced by melting snow but this was always an energy-hungry solution.
7 March, 2025 by Matthew Hughes
As Rothera Research Station continues its modernisation programme, Matt Hughes, Tower Operations Supervisor, shares his thoughts on the transition to our new Operations Tower, marking a significant milestone in Antarctic …
22 July, 2024 by Eliot Perez
For some people, working in Antarctica is a lifelong dream. For others, like Eliot Perez, Assistant Project Manager for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme, that dream became a reality nine …
2 April, 2024 by Katie Handford
As the Antarctic winter season fast approaches, we’ll be following the journey of one of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme’s (AIMP) Assistant Project Managers, Katie Handford as she gears up to spend winter at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica.
6 January, 2016 by Tom Jordan
The altimeter in the front of the Twin Otter aircraft is showing 8500 ft as we cruise due south from Rothera research station for the next leg in our PolarGAP …
12 February, 2025
Here’s our fifth postcard from Rothera, where exciting changes are transforming our largest Antarctic research station this month! A new wind deflector The new Discovery Building is taking shape with …
3 January, 2025
Rod Arnold, Head of the Air Unit at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for services to Polar Science and …
25 October, 2024
British Antarctic Survey has won the Gold Award at the National Building and Construction Awards 2024 for ‘The Project of the Year (£10 million to £25 million)’. Oliver Darke, Director …
10 July, 2024
Construction teams have completed significant stages of the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme and joined the over-wintering staff for the first time as the 2023/24 summer season ended. The improvements, led by BAM and technical advisors Ramboll will transform future science and operations at Rothera, the UK’s largest polar research station in Antarctica.
4 March, 2024
As part of the British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP), the runway at Rothera research station has successfully been resurfaced by construction company BAM and the design completed by Ramboll. The station is a major hub for international science in Antarctica, and this significant achievement is a pivotal moment for BAS and the UK’s future polar research capabilities.
29 February, 2024
We’ve been modernising our Antarctic infrastructure for future generations of polar scientists. Construction in the Antarctic is challenging and the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP) has made great progress at …
21 February, 2024
Engineers Tania Alvarez and Jose Valverde have celebrated their engagement at one of the world’s southmost locations, British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic peninsula.
12 May, 2023
Modernising Antarctic Infrastructure for Future Generations of Polar Scientists Specialist construction teams are travelling home to the UK after five months of work in Antarctica to modernise British Antarctic Survey …
21 April, 2022
On 17 March 2022, Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of the British Antarctic Survey, Nigel Bird, Director of Major Programmes at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Brian Love, Chief …
The Rothera Air Infrastructure project is part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP) future phases. The Dash 7 aircraft is due to be phased out and the British Antarctic …