Antarctica: Norse Atlantic Airways has landed a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on an icy runway in a remote part of Antarctica. The runway spans 3,000 meters (9840 feet) in length and 60 meters (100 feet) in width. After the landing, it became the largest plane to ever land in Antarctica.
“We have achieved together a momentous moment of landing the first 787 Dreamliner. In the spirit of exploration, we are proud to have a hand in this important and unique mission,” Mr. Bjørn Tore Larsen, Norse Atlantic CEO, said in a statement.
The plane departed Oslo on November 13, 2023, stopping in Cape Town before flying further south on November 15, 2023, night to make its historic landing.
The Norwegian Polar Institute operates a research station situated in Jutulsessen, in Queen Maud Land, around 150 miles (235 kilometres) from the coast, as per the statement.
According to Norse Atlantic Airways, the Dreamliner’s goal was to take “essential research equipment and scientists to the remote Troll research station in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.”
On this mission, 45 passengers, including scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute, were on board the flight, which also transported 12 tons of research equipment essential for Antarctic expeditions.
“Landing such a large aircraft opens up entirely new possibilities for logistics at Troll, which will also contribute to strengthening Norwegian research in Antarctica. “The most crucial aspect is the environmental gain we can achieve by using large and modern aircraft of this type for Troll,” Ms. Camilla Brekke, director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, stated.
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