Aircraft/Airfield Maintence and Operations in Extreme Conditions

[Delta Force]

Does anyone know where I can find information on weather conditions of the sub-Arctic and Arctic and maintaining airfields, aircraft, and workers in extreme conditions? Information on extreme cold/heat and high altitude is all useful. I've found information on flying over the Arctic and North Pole but not on ground operations in such an area and things to be on the lookout for when flying in such areas.

I'm writing an alternate history timeline of the Jet Age. Due to a few points of divergence aerospace in the 1960s is largely a continuation of the 1950s, with high speed aircraft playing a prominent role in defense and airline operations. To help defend North America from high speed aircraft NORAD builds a network of high latitude interceptor and SAC bases.

 

[Grey Havoc]

It's a PR piece from 1949, but it may be of some use, especially in regard to conditions in Alaska (with a qualifier, see below):

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/air-war-over-the-arctic/

Note however, that I seem to remember that the polar weather in the late 1940s was milder (relatively speaking) than normal.


From the same source, here's an idea for your alternate timeline:

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/rubber-fortresses-for-a-bomb-defense/


Here's two appendixes to a late 40's/early 50's report (unfortunately I don't have a link to the full report, only a few citations [see further below]).
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/703363.pdf
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/703361.pdf

http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0712427
http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0703392
http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0462973

 

[Delta Force]

Thanks for the help. Do you know if turbine engines eventually evolved to be capable of starting on jet fuel? The article mentions that the Lockheed P-80B Shooting Stars had their General Electric/Allison J-33 turbojets modified to start with gasoline (which is more combustible) before switching over to jet fuel once running. Of course the J-33 was a very early turbojet and it wouldn't surprise me if later engines don't have that requirement. ETOPS APUs are air startable with jet fuel in similar conditions, so it eventually became possible.

 

[Avimimus]

If you have piston engined support aircraft - one of the old tactics used on the Russian Front and by bush pilots was to douse the engine in alcohol and light it on fire... cowlings removed first of course.