newstodate.aero
Nov 27, 2015 (newstodate): Loftleidir, a subsidiary of the Icelandair Group performed an unusual mission on November 17, 2015, with a Boeing 757-200 aircraft into the Antarctica.
The purpose of the flight with 50 souls on board was to explore if operations into Union Glacier with a usual passenger aircraft is actually feasible - and happily for the aircraft and its crew the answer seems to be YES!
Behind the operation was a group comprising Loftleidir American, Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions and NAS Corporation Limited.
Until now, operations carrying passengers and cargo between Punta Arensa in Chile and the ALE camp at Union Glacier have been operated with Hercules and IL-76 aircraft, but the new experience gained may facilitate the chartering in the future of commercial passenger aircraft to lift the around 4-500 passengers that travel the route annually.
The purpose of the flight with 50 souls on board was to explore if operations into Union Glacier with a usual passenger aircraft is actually feasible - and happily for the aircraft and its crew the answer seems to be YES!
Behind the operation was a group comprising Loftleidir American, Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions and NAS Corporation Limited.
Until now, operations carrying passengers and cargo between Punta Arensa in Chile and the ALE camp at Union Glacier have been operated with Hercules and IL-76 aircraft, but the new experience gained may facilitate the chartering in the future of commercial passenger aircraft to lift the around 4-500 passengers that travel the route annually.