Antarctic ice runways under construction for medevac Australian Antarctic Program Press Release | December 29, 2020 Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 22 seconds. Work has begun on constructing two Antarctic ice runways to use in the medevac of a patient from Australia’s Davis research station. A team of five, with more than 1000 kilograms of equipment, was flown by Chinese helicopter to the ski landing area, on the ice plateau behind Davis station. CHINARE helicopter arrives at Davis research station. Dan Dyer/AAD Photo The expeditioners will spend three to five days building the two kilometer ski-way to receive a Basler aircraft. 1400 kilometers away at Australia’s Wilkins Aerodrome, near Casey station, another crew of eight is preparing a three-and-a-half kilometer glacial runway.