Air Infrastructure

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 Survey has purchased a replacement aircraft to continue to support its scientific and strategic objectives. Find out more about Future Air Capability.

The runway and hangar have been identified as infrastructure which needs redevelopment to support the aircraft programme in the long term.

Resurfacing & upgrading lighting

Hangar redevelopment

Runway enhancement

1. Here we go again…

   Christopher Robert Lloyd, Associate Project Manager at Ramboll is currently working at Rothera Research Station on the construction of the Discovery Building for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). In […]

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1. BAS wins national award for runway resurfacing project

   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)’. 

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2. Love on Ice: Engineers’ Antarctic Engagement Sparks Warmth

   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.

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3. Exterior complete for new Antarctic science and operations facility

   A new scientific and operational support facility at Rothera Research Station for British Antarctic Survey has been made weathertight, with the cladding complete and an  operations tower installed.

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4. New season begins for Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme

   The next phase of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme (AIMP) is set to begin with a 6-month construction season at Rothera Research Station. The station is the UK’s largest Antarctic research and operations hub that supports leading researchers in frontier science in the region. 

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5. Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme – change in leadership 

   This month (July 2022) a formal change in the leadership of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP) takes place.    Elen Jones joins British Antarctic Survey as the new AIMP Programme Director […]

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1. Dash-7 aircraft

   The De Havilland Canada Dash-7 (DHC-7) is a key element of our aircraft capability. This four-engined aircraft with a worldwide reputation for reliability, economy and performance made its first flight to Antarctica in 1994.

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2. Twin Otter aircraft

   The Twin Otter is a high-wing, twin-engine, turbo-prop aircraft. They are used all over the world and are known for their rugged construction, reliability and short take-off and landing performance.

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3. Rothera Research Station

   The largest British Antarctic facility is a centre for biological research and a hub for supporting deep-field science.

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4. Rothera Air Facility

   With its runway Rothera Research Station is the polar operations hub that supports British Antarctic Survey’s airborne capability

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5. Rothera runway

   The runway at Rothera is 900 metres long (2,950 ft) and is made of crushed rock.

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