Norse Atlantic Airways marks aviation history with first Boeing landing 787-9 Dreamlineron an ice track in Antarctica.
Registered LN-FNC, the 787-9 named “Everglades”, landed at Troll Airfield (QAT) in Antarctica at 2:01 a.m. local time on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. Managed by Norse Atlantic Airways and under contract with Norwegian Polar Institute and Aircontact, Scandinavia’s largest air brokerage company, this historic mission transported essential research equipment and scientists to the isolated Troll research station in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica ( South Pole), which is home to one of the most pristine environments on the planet.
On board flight N0787 were 45 passengers, including scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute and other countries, to different stations in Antarctica. The flight also carried 12 tons of research equipment essential to the exploration of Antarctica. Departing Oslo on November 13, the Dreamliner stopped at Cape, in South Africa, before embarking on the difficult stage of Antarctica. Departing Cape Town at 11:03 p.m. on Wednesday, the plane spent more than 40 hours in South Africa before its historic landing at Troll Airfield. “It is a great honor and great enthusiasm on the part of the entire Norse team that we have achieved a memorable moment together by landing the first 787 Dreamliner”commented Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways. “In the spirit of exploration, we are proud to participate in this important and unique mission. It is a true testament to our highly trained and capable pilots and crews, as well as our state-of-the-art Boeing aircraft. »
Antarctica does not have conventional paved runways; this is why Norse Atlantic Airways landed on a “blue ice trail”of 3,000 meters long and 60 meters wide, at Troll airfield. The Norwegian Polar Institute operates the research station located at Jutulsessen in Queen Maud Land, approximately 235 kilometers from the coast. “The 787 Dreamliner stands out for its exceptional fuel efficiency, allowing a round-trip flight from Cape Town to Antarctica without the need to refuel. This not only ensures rapid turnaround times, but also significantly benefits the environment by eliminating the logistical complexities of transportation, storage, and handling of fuel in Antarctica. Combined with the aircraft’s impressive 150 cubic meter cargo capacity across three cargo bays and a cargo loading system designed to facilitate the handling of pallets and containers, the Dreamliner excels at meeting the demands of this mission.”explains Paul Erlandsson, Boeing spokesperson.
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