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First Boeing 737 MAX jet lands in Antarctica
PRAGUE, CZECHIA — Low-cost Czech carrier Smartwings became the first airline to land in Antarctica with a Boeing 737 MAX 8. The landing at Troll Airfield at the northern tip of Antarctica took place on January 26, 2022. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...
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737s were landing in the Arctic 50 years ago. I rode on one up to Resolute Bay in 1971. They are rated for gravel landing strips. A damn good aircraft!
Still in use BTW in the Cdn Arctic. Especially important considering mining activities up there which are supported by the certified gravel-kit equipped 737s primarily in combi format. Look up Nolinor and Xstrata. Great dependable rugged technology made when Boeing was primarily an aircraft manufacturer and not primarily a listing on the stock exchange whose purpose is to increase investor wealth All, of course, IMHO.
Other airlines have flown to and landed on the ice off the coast of Antarctica. Contract flights by Qantas, and Air New Zealand come to mind. Permission to land on runways prepared on the ice require approval of the nation running the associated station. The novelty here is that this was the first flight by a 737 Max to do so.
And that is the only newsworthy aspect of this weakly headlined story. Cheap eyeball magnet approach. Again.
Correct. Icelandair did it earlier this month as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag5XlJ7gRbE
“ Troll Airfield at the northern tip of Antarctica”
A good third of the Antarctic coastline sits on or north of the Antarctic Circle. Troll is several degrees south of the circle. That means a third of the coastline is further north than Troll. When you are in the polar regions, cardinal directions approach absurdity when it comes to navigation.
A good third of the Antarctic coastline sits on or north of the Antarctic Circle. Troll is several degrees south of the circle. That means a third of the coastline is further north than Troll. When you are in the polar regions, cardinal directions approach absurdity when it comes to navigation.
