Photo: FlightRadar24/Norsk Polarinstitutt on Twitter/Edited
With a maximum seating capacity of around 330 passengers, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is one of the world's most iconic and easily recognizable airplanes. Now, it shines on the world stage once more as it becomes the largest aircraft ever to land in Antarctica. The departure footage is also something to behold.
Although some may find it hard to believe, planes can safely land on snowy or icy runways. It's common in places like Alaska, some parts of Canada, or Russia's Siberia. These landings require precision braking, a good weather assessment, and enough room for deceleration. However, most of those aircraft are small. Commercial pilots rarely have to deal with such situations. Airports have snowplows and trucks loaded with sand to ensure traction.
But Norway's Norse Atlantic Airways took on the challenge to land a loaded Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in Antarctica. Keep in mind that this is a relatively young company. It was founded in the spring of 2021 and started operating flights in the summer of last year! That makes this achievement all the more impressive.
The Norwegian Polar Institute prepared in advance to welcome the aircraft. They made sure the runway was clear and the snow properly flattened to stop it from becoming unmanageable or a hazard. Snow needs dust, sea salt, or volcanic ash to form because water must stick to something for ice crystals to form. That's why too much snow can cause issues for the General Electric or Rolls-Royce engines.
Fortunately, there wasn't much work to do because the blue ice runway needed a verification groom that ensured enough friction to secure a good arrival on a sunny day when the temperature measured seven degrees Fahrenheit.
The 787-9 Dreamliner landed comfortably on the permanently frozen tundra of Troll's Airfield. It took advantage of the two-mile-long and 330-foot-wide airstrip situated 4.2 miles away from Norway's research station at the South Pole.
The plane was loaded with people, equipment, and cargo for the Norwegian Polar Institute and other research stations. Typically, the 787-9 Dreamliner can seat 246 people, excluding the onboard crew. This one hauled more cargo on this occasion, but the aircraft floor didn't have to be modified.
Those stationed near the northern edge of Antarctica celebrated the momentous occasion, and Norse Atlantic Airways marked the arrival with a brief photoshoot. The landing and departure footage is impressive and puts on display what humans can achieve when working together. Rarely do we get to see such a big plane making its way onto the South Pole.
The successful Antarctica landing and departure also gave the aircraft a belated gift for its 10th anniversary. The airplane had its maiden flight on September 17, 2013.
Finally, in 2021, Icelandair made waves by sending a Boeing 767 to Troll Airfield.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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