The Boeing 787 Makes History by Landing in Antarctica for the First Time

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operated by Norse Atlantic Airways, landed at Troll Airfield in Antarctica on November 15, 2023, at 02:01 local time. It was the first time a Dreamliner and the largest aircraft ever landed on the continent.

The flight was contracted by the Norwegian Polar Institute, which conducts scientific research and environmental monitoring in the polar regions. The flight carried 45 passengers, including scientists from various countries, and 12 tons of equipment to the Troll research station in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.

The Dreamliner departed from Oslo, Norway, on November 13, 2023, and stopped in Cape Town, South Africa, for 40 hours before heading to Antarctica. The flight returned to Cape Town on November 16, 2023, without needing to refuel in Antarctica.

The flight used a “blue ice runway”, which is a runway carved out of the snow and ice, measuring 3,000 meters long and 60 meters wide. The landing was challenging due to the high altitude, low temperature, and strong winds in Antarctica.

It was made possible by the exceptional fuel efficiency, cargo capacity, and performance of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 engine. The use of modern and large aircraft reduces the environmental impact and logistical complexity of flight operations to Antarctica.

The Norse Atlantic Airways jet that landed in Antarctica was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. This is the smallest and original variant of the 787 family, which also includes the 787-9 and the 787-10. The 787-8 typically seats 242 passengers and has a range of 7,355 nautical miles (13,621 km).

Norse Atlantic is a Norwegian low-cost, long-haul airline that operates a fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft between Europe and North America. According to the web search results, Norse Atlantic has 10 Boeing 787-9s in service, and plans to lease another 5 Boeing 787-8s from AerCap. The airline also has a subsidiary in the UK, which has 6 Boeing 787-9s. The average fleet age of Norse Atlantic is 5.0 years.

The 787 flight was a historic and momentous achievement for Norse Atlantic Airways, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, and the Norwegian Polar Institute. It demonstrated the spirit of exploration, innovation, and collaboration in aviation and science.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, deseret.com, airwaysmag.com