China builds first Antarctic airbase

China is building a permanent airfield in Antarctica as Beijing seeks to expand its influence over the polar region

Xue Ying 601 (Snow Eagle): China’s first polar fixed-wing aircraft will be based at new facility

Magnetometer
Airborne laser altimeter
Gravimeter
Ice radar

SPECIFICATIONS 
Cruising speed: 380km/h 
Max. range: 3,440km 
Take-off load: 13 tonnes 
Capacity: 18 passengers
New base will free aircraft from having to use other countries’ airfields

Runway: 1,500m long, 80m wide, located on ice sheet 28km from Zhongshan. Will allow use of larger planes and provide logistical support for China’s South Pole ambitions

ANTARCTICA
Transantarctic Mountains
South Pole
Kunlun Seasonal
Taishan Seasonal
EAST ANTARCTICA
WEST ANTARCTICA

Great Wall Permanent
Antarctic Peninsula
Weddell Sea
Zhongshan Permanent
Prydz Bay
Chinese research stations
SOUTHERN OCEAN
Ross Sea
1,000km 620 miles

15 countries have built over 50 permanent airfields in Antarctica – U.S., Russia, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Germany, Chile, Argentina, Norway, South Africa, Belgium, Japan and India

Fifth station under construction at Terra Nova Bay, expected to open in 2023

Sources: SCMP, Flightjournal
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