On November 15, 2023, the largest aircraft in the history of the continent landed in Antarctica. It was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner of Norse Atlantic Airways, Sky News reports.
The aircraft took off from Oslo on November 13 and stopped in Cape Town. The plane then headed to Antarctica and landed on a runway that was made of ice and snow.
The Troll airfield is a 3 km long strip of blue ice and operates only from October to March - before the six-month winter begins.
There were 45 passengers on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, including scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute. The aircraft was also carrying 12 tons of research equipment.
The landing of the plane in Antarctica is an important event for Norwegian science. It will reduce the number of flights required and reduce the impact on the continent's environment.
In addition, the landing of this aircraft is proof that modern aircraft are capable of flying in the extreme conditions of Antarctica.
Why do almost no passenger planes fly over Antarctica?
There are almost no passenger airliners over Antarctica. There are only three runways built on the entire continent, which are intended exclusively for the transport of scientists and participants in research expeditions. They operate irregularly and are guided mainly by the actual weather.
There are several reasons why passenger planes do not fly over Antarctica:
• Difficult weather. Antarctica is the coldest and windiest continent on Earth. The weather here can be very unpredictable, posing serious safety risks.
• High costs. Flights over Antarctica require the use of special equipment and fuel, which increases the cost of flights.
• Low demand. The number of tourists wishing to visit Antarctica is small. This is because traveling to this continent is expensive and difficult.
