Norse Atlantic Airways lived up to its reputation as the “explorer’s airline” by landing a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica.
The airline claims it is a world first – “a groundbreaking milestone in the history of aviation”.
Because there were no conventional paved runways in Antarctica, the plane instead landed on a 3,000 meter long and 60 meter wide glacial runway at Troll Airfield, where the average temperature is -25 degrees Celsius.
On board the plane, named Everglades, were 45 passengers, including scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute and other countries.
They were destined for various stations in Antarctica, including the Norwegian Polar Institute’s Troll Research Station.
Norse Atlantic Airways lived up to its reputation as the “explorer’s airline” by landing a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica
The flight also carried 12 tons of essential research equipment essential for Antarctic exploration.
The Dreamliner, commissioned by the Norwegian Polar Institute and airline Aircontact, started its journey from Oslo on November 13 and stopped in Cape Town before embarking on the “challenging” Antarctic leg.
The 787 landed at Troll Airfield in Jutulsessen in Queen Maud Land at 02:00 local time on Wednesday.
The runway, operated by the Norwegian Polar Institute, is 6.8 kilometers (4.2 mi) from the Troll Research Station and about 235 km (146 mi) from the coast.
Ice Covered: Because there were no conventional paved runways in Antarctica, the plane instead landed on a 3,000 meter long and 60 meter wide “blue ice” glacier runway at Troll Airfield
The challenge for pilots landing at Troll Airfield is that there is no radio navigation system to control the aircraft – and no structures on the airfield to help measure speed and orientation.
Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways, was extremely proud of this achievement.
He said: “In the spirit of exploration, we are proud to contribute to this important and unique mission. This is a true testament to our highly trained and skilled pilots and crew members, as well as our state-of-the-art Boeing aircraft.”
Camilla Brekke, director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, said: “The most important aspect is the environmental benefit we can achieve by using this type of large and modern aircraft for Troll.”
“This could help reduce overall emissions and carbon footprint in Antarctica.”
She added: “Landing such a large aircraft opens up completely new logistical opportunities at Troll, which will also help strengthen Norwegian research in Antarctica.”
The Dreamliner, commissioned by the Norwegian Polar Institute and airline Aircontact, started its journey from Oslo on November 13 and stopped in Cape Town before embarking on the “challenging” Antarctic leg.
The Dreamliner, with its “impressive” cargo capacity, “perfectly meets the requirements of this mission,” said Boeing’s Paul Erlandsson.
Paul Erlandsson, Boeing field representative, said: “The 787 Dreamliner has exceptional fuel efficiency, allowing round-trip flights from Cape Town to Antarctica without the need for fuel.”
“This not only ensures quick turnaround times, but also significantly benefits the environment by eliminating the logistical hassle involved in transporting, storing and handling fuel in Antarctica.”
“Combined with the aircraft’s impressive cargo capacity of 150 cubic meters across three cargo bays and a cargo loading system designed to easily handle pallets and containers, the Dreamliner excels in meeting the requirements of this mission.”
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
