Airports / Antarctica / NZWD
Williams Field Skiway.
McMurdo Station, Antarctica · 68 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
NZWD
ICAO identifier
0
Operators based
68
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
193 nm
To the nearest alternate
Boulder Clay Runway (AQBC).
Overview
Williams Field Skiway (NZWD) sits in McMurdo Station, Antarctica, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 68 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into NZWD for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Boulder Clay Runway (AQBC, 193 nm), Concordia Skyway (AT03, 619 nm), and Vostok Skiway (AT28, 710 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 10,000-foot unpaved runway, NZWD can typically accommodate aircraft as large as turboprops.
Charter pricing from NZWD depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under Willies Field. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from McMurdo Station.
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Field capability
ICAO
NZWD
IATA
n/a
FAA / Local
NZWD
Elevation
68 ft
Coordinates
77.8674° S · 167.0570° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs Antarctica fields
state range 68–11,447 ft
At 68 ft, NZWD sits lower than 80% of the 5 Antarctica fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 10,000 ft
- 07/2510,000 ft × 220 ftOtherLighted
- 15/3310,000 ft × 220 ftOtherLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest runway 10,000 ft
NZWD's 10,000 ft runway typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 193nmAQBCBoulder Clay RunwayZucchelli Station
- 619nmAT03Concordia SkywayConcordia Station
- 710nmAT28Vostok SkiwayVostok Station
- 728nmNZSPAmundsen–Scott South Pole Station AirportAmundsen-Scott South Pole Station
- 1457nmAQ-0016Grandfather SkiwayAntartica
- 1889nmIVCInvercargill AirportInvercargill
Location
Open the full mapNZWD · Williams Field Skiway · McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from NZWD on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 6,079 nm | 14h 32m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,198 nm | 17h 8m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 7,217 nm | 17h 11m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,237 nm | 17h 14m |
| Austin (AUS) | 7,239 nm | 17h 14m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,252 nm | 17h 16m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 7,261 nm | 17h 17m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 7,366 nm | 17h 32m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use NZWD?
- Williams Field Skiway's longest runway is 10,000 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at NZWD?
- Williams Field Skiway has 2 runways; the longest measures 10,000 ft and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to NZWD?
- The closest alternate is Boulder Clay Runway (AQBC), about 193 nm away, followed by Concordia Skyway (AT03) at 619 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from NZWD to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 14h 32m (6,079 nm), Miami about 17h 8m (7,198 nm), Los Angeles about 17h 11m (7,217 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.