First-ever: Boeing 787 Dreamliner Touches Down in the Icy Expanse of Antarctica
Boeing 787 Dreamliner of Norse Atlantic Airways achieves a remarkable feat, landing on Antarctica's remote research station The passenger plane gracefully touches down on a unique blue ice runway, marking the historic first-ever Dreamliner landing on the southern continent
Norse Atlantic Airways made a unique landing on Wednesday in Antarctica, facing a new challenge for nervous flyers: an ice runway. Instead of the usual conditions, they landed a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on a "blue ice runway" that was 3,000 meters (9840 feet) long and 60 meters (100 feet) wide, sculpted from the snow and ice.
The Dreamliner touched down at Troll Airfield on Wednesday shortly after 2 a.m., basking in the brilliant sunshine of the current southern hemisphere summer. This marked the first-ever arrival of a Dreamliner, a spacious aircraft capable of accommodating up to 330 passengers depending on the model, on the sixth continent.
However, before you consider booking your own trip to Troll, it's important to note that flight N0787 was not an ordinary passenger route. Onboard were 45 passengers, including scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute. These researchers had chartered the flight to transport both themselves and a colossal 12 tons of equipment to the Troll research station in Queen Maud Land, located in Antarctica.
It was not a swift journey over the ocean, either. Departing from Oslo on November 13, the plane made a stop in Cape Town before continuing southwards on Wednesday night to complete its groundbreaking landing.
The Princess Elisabeth research station in Antarctica.
International Polar Foundation
Scientists in one of the most isolated locations on Earth are ensured a constant supply of food and maintained happiness.
According to Daniel Carey from Aircontact, the flight broker responsible for organizing the journey, the Dreamliner aircraft was chosen due to its generous cargo capacity. Paul Erlandsson, a field service representative at Boeing, also highlighted the aircraft's fuel efficiency as a contributing factor. Remarkably, the plane was able to travel to Antarctica and return to Cape Town without requiring any refueling.
It's the first time a Dreamliner has made it to the sixth continent.
Norse Atlantic Airways CEO, Bjørn Tore Larsen, expressed his immense pride and enthusiasm as he announced the historic achievement of successfully landing the first-ever 787 Dreamliner.
"We take immense pride in our involvement with this significant and exceptional expedition, embodying the very essence of exploration. It serves as a remarkable testament to the expertise and proficiency of our exceptionally trained pilots and crew, as well as the cutting-edge technology of our Boeing aircraft."
According to Camilla Brekke, the director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, employing larger aircraft represented a more sustainable approach to accessing the renowned, delicate continent.
"The utilization of large and modern aircraft plays a pivotal role in achieving environmental benefits... This approach aids in minimizing overall emissions and reducing the environmental impact in Antarctica," she emphasized.
"The capability to land such sizable aircraft introduces a multitude of untapped logistic opportunities at Troll, thereby enhancing Norwegian research endeavors in Antarctica."
