Smithsonian Channel’s ‘Ice Airport Alaska’ Takes Off With New Season in January

By R. Thomas Umstead
last updated

Documentary series returns for second season on January 9

Smithsonian Channel will bring back its docuseries Ice Airport Alaska for its sophomore campaign on Jan. 9, the network announced Thursday.

The series chronicles the Ted Stevens International Airport in Alaska as it gets hammered by sub-zero temperatures, snowstorms, blizzards, and earthquakes, according to the network.

Ice Airport Alaska highlights the airport’s 110 staff members who work 24/7 just to keep the 33 million square feet of active runway clear of the 6 million tons of snow that fall annually, according to Smithsonian.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.