In 2009, development began for a 150,00 lbf Gas Turbine Engine Icing Testing Facility in Thompson, Manitoba.
“The facility, known as the Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and Environmental Research (GLACIER), provides icing certification tests for large aviation gas turbine engines, as well as performance, endurance, and other gas turbine engine qualification testing.
The GLACIER facility is a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, in partnership with EnviroTREC, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), and MDS Aero Support, which provides the aviation industry with the required environmental conditions and capability to meet the growing demands for icing certification.”
– mdsaero.com
The program required the development of a quarry for rock fill for the road, the leveling and development of Site 1, where the test stand is placed, and the development of Site 2, where the control room and GLACIER support facilities are found. Site 1 and 2 are located approximately 1km apart from one another.
Photos courtesy of Bob Brant and Bob Hastings.
