For the first time...a plane lands on an icy runway in Antarctica

Arabia Weather - Aircraft landing strips vary according to their features, whether they are short, obstructed by obstacles, or exposed to stormy weather conditions. However, a new runway has now emerged that is worrying travelers: the Ice Runway.

On an unusual day, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner of the Norwegian airline Norse Atlantic landed in unique circumstances. Its destination was Antarctica. The runway on which it landed was blue, 3,000 meters long and 60 meters wide, and was carved with snow and ice.

The landing came early Wednesday morning under bright sunshine, given that the Southern Hemisphere is currently experiencing summer, and this was the first time that a Dreamliner plane, which can accommodate about 330 passengers, had arrived in Antarctica.

The flight of the plane, number N0787, was not ordinary , as it was carrying 45 scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute on board, transporting 12 tons of equipment to the “Troll” research station in Queen Maud Land in Antarctica.

The plane departed Oslo on November 13, stopping in Cape Town, South Africa, before heading south on Wednesday evening to make a historic landing on the icy runway. According to Daniel Carey of Aircontact, the broker who organized the flight, the Dreamliner's spacious cargo space made it ideal for this flight.

Paul Erlandson, a Boeing service representative, added that fuel efficiency was one of the key factors in the success of the flight.

Historic landing... The 787 Dreamliner arrives in Antarctica.

The plane arrived in Antarctica and returned without having to refuel in Cape Town, where Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic , said in a statement:

“It is a great honor to announce on behalf of the Norse team that a very important moment has been achieved: the landing of the first 787 Dreamliner.”

He added:

“We are proud to have contributed to this unique mission, which is a living testament to the expertise of our highly trained crews and our modern Boeing aircraft.”

For her part, Camilla Brekke, Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, pointed out that using large aircraft was a more sustainable way to reach the famous icy continent and said:

“The most important aspect is the environmental gains that can be achieved using large, modern aircraft, which can help reduce the total emissions and environmental footprint in Antarctica.”

She added:

“Landing such a large aircraft opens up completely new possibilities for logistics in Troll, and will also contribute to strengthening Norwegian research in Antarctica.”

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Sources:

cnn

businessinsider