The North Pole experiences very cold and unstable weather, which reduces visibility because of the absence of landmarks on the continent and ice formation on windshields. Though no country can make a valid claim to ownership of the North Pole, the countries that border it Norway, the United States (via Alaska), Russia, and Canada each have competing territorial claims in the Arctic region. Well, the South Pole has always had a fearsome reputation, with its cold, icy, mountainous environment which is generally not very welcoming for humans. The extreme weather conditions, such as high winds, blizzards and bitter cold temperatures, create a hostile environment for humans. Now transpolar routes are common. Read more: Perfect landing: How pilots avoid colliding with the ground in tricky situations. Still, not just any airplane can make the long trip up and over the top of the world. The main reason why humans cannot live on Antarctica is the climate. It is this TAT value that is chilling the wings and thus affecting the fuel temperature. This is another danger factor of flying over polar regions that far too often goes unnoticed - the weather and topography. Tourist flights to Antarctica are becoming increasingly popular these days, but these flights usually don't land on the continent itself. It could also be beneficial for other routes. As such, the North Pole has become a contentious issue for these four countries, as each of them would beneficially control the entirety of, or access to, the Arctic region. Flying over the North Pole is safe due to the active population centers and infrastructure in the North Pole. However, if you find yourself regularly flying between the Middle East and North America, you may want to give this some thought. Contrary to what the scientists were expecting, the study found that it wasn't the duration of the flight but the route which has the greatest effect on cosmic radiation exposure. Geodesic navigation reduces the flight distance because the distance is objectively shorter in real life (such as when looking at and comparing distances when looking at a 3D map rather than a 2D map). Enrollment required. North Pole in Luxury. We no longer expect the polar regions to be one of the potential first flash points in a conflict between American and Soviet fighter jets, nor do we imagine nuclear warfare involving those areas. For aircraft to be able to take advantage of routes across the North Pole, very much like across the North Atlantic, a Polar Track structure has been created. Take an average spring day out of London where its 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Flying over the North Pole is known as a great circle route, and is the shortest distance between two points on the globe. Thank the end of the Cold Warand the existence of some cold airportsfor your next transpolar flight. The reduced flight time and flight distance from geodesic navigation also results in less fuel being used, which reduces fuel costs. When temperatures get this low, a conventional fuel would freeze. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. The most obvious reason to do this is to save fuel. And what about the Antarctic? We like to think that air travel has opened up the world to the extent that everywhere is accessible. Taylor Rains. Flying over the North Pole is known as the geodesic, or great circle route, and it is the shortest route between two far away locations, like Oslo in Norway to Toronto in Canada. Q: How often are transpolar routes utilized today, and why were they a big deal when first introduced? Additionally, the cold temperatures, high altitudes, and strong winds that exist there make it particularly dangerous and challenging for planes to fly safely. Why is it difficult to fly over the North Pole? There have been successful flights to the North Pole in the past, but you must fulfill FAA requirements to safely fly over the North Pole. However, sometimes its beneficial to deviate off this route to take advantage of (or to avoid) strong winds. Ice forming on the wings can weigh them down considerably, to say nothing of the damage that strong winds and moisture can do. Polar orbiting satellites are generally in inclined orbits to keep the orbit "frozen", if they did not do this then the orbit would drift. As a result, its position can be determined by GPS, increasing our navigational accuracy. A survey of flight attendants in Europe and North America also found higher rates of skin, breast and prostate cancer, as well as acute myeloid leukemia than the average person. Air India on Sunday become the 19th airline in the world to fly its plane over the North Pole. Militaries from countries such as the US and Russia have planes and crews that are outfitted for the areas extreme cold. Only a LEO satellite has any real reason to be over the poles. On the contrary, obviously the closer you get to extreme cold such as this, the fewer the towns and the less populous they are. Q: What happens in air when there is a medical emergency? By: Author Olin Wade (Remodel or Move Stuff). During an overwater or transpolar flight, it could be several hours before a landing could be made. Although planes have been flying across the Arctic for more than fifty years, it was only in 1998 that airlines began to use the transpolar airways we use today. The issue is actually the area's strong magnetic field - it can cause havoc with the plane's navigation. Even though the distance may be longer, the flight time (and subsequently the cost) will be reduced. You can also visit the North Pole by traveling overland from Russia or Canada, typically by skiing, dragging a sled called a "pulk," and camping on the ice. Aircraft pilots often experience radio communication issues due to interference caused by solar activity on the North Pole. The Antarctic Treaty System and its associated Agreed Measures state that all activity in the continent must be conducted under a licensing system. Some people believe there are undiscovered forms of life living in subglacial lakes and caverns, but no scientific evidence has ever been found that supports this. As the aircraft climbs, the outside air temperature decreases. Their flight was completed on a 106 meters long and 26 meters tall airship filled with hydrogen. The duration of our visit is largely determined by weather . If passengers need immediate care, how quickly can/would a plane land? According to NASA, the average airline pilot receives more radiation a year than does a fuel-cycle worker in a nuclear power plant. The main reason for this is because Antarctica is a geographic environment that is not ideal for aircraft. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_orbit Yet, flying directly over the North Pole is extremely difficult and uncommon due to the dangerous climate conditions in the North Pole, and the region's complete lack of infrastructure. Clearly, we do not need polar routes to do so. As well quickly see, however, there are many logistical problems that can make flying over the polar regions difficult. Some of this radiation is useful and other types are not so useful. On May 9, 1926, Lt. Cmdr. Furthermore, due to its location at the south pole, special permits and arrangements must be made in order to be allowed to visit the continent. Moreover, with commercial travel around these points low, the incentive to do so is even lesser. Antarctica is devoid of any of those. In order to maintain communication with the ground, pilots must ensure that they establish high frequency (HF) communications with the relevant ATC unit. The discovery was of an active, subglacial lake, now known as Lake Mercer. Read more: Heres what it takes to pass the captain test for a major airline. Check here before booking an award fare. In fact, most of it is southwest. The Antarctic pole also experiences significantly less direct sunlight and reflects away more of the suns rays due to its altitude and snow-covered surface, causing temperatures to be much colder than the Arctic. If a plane lands in Antarctica, it will have no access to assistance or infrastructure, which makes flying especially risky. In service, there is no problem. The DGCA circular said "any operator wishing to obtain Polar authorization must submit an application with all supporting data to it, addressing all the regulatory requirements for Polar operations". Back in 1983, Finnair was the first airline to fly non-stop from Europe to Japan, flying over the North Pole - so operating in the polar region is not new to Finnair. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. According Debapriyo, most commercial airlines avoid flying directly over the Himalayas. There are a variety of types of travel to Antarctica, including cruise ships, sailboats, and private yachts, as well as flights which stop in the continent. Even for the frequent flyer, the doses of radiation experienced on normal flights are not considered to be excessive. So, flying geodesic flights result in shorter travel distances than if a flight went over the Atlantic Ocean. When flying in the vicinity of the North Pole, that switch needs to be set to TRUE to change the heading reference from magnetic north to true north. Over land with many airports, this is no problem. All rights reserved. Yes, planes do fly over the North Pole to save time. This also happens in the Arctic, but winds surrounding the North Pole are not as strong. What kind of air traffic would benefit from a straight line cutting across the North or South Pole? I had a passenger experience a severe medical issue on a flight to Florida. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. The crew has dedicated flight crew rest areas that allowfor rest on these ultra-long flights. The cold temperatures and lack of communications do provide more of a challenge than on other routes but flight safety is never compromised. You can partially thank the end of the Cold War for shaving an hour or two off of some of the world's longest flights. Airlines located within North America, Russia and Europe must obtain special permission from several different countries in order to fly over the North Pole. Flying over the north pole itself does not provide any advantage in terms of distance saved unless it happens to lie on a great circle route between two points and that is often not the case. If I was to tell you that a typical TAT value at 38,000 feet is just minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit, youll now be able to understand why the fuel doesnt freeze. All parties signatory to the agreement have agreed to respect this rule and avoid using the continent for any military purposes. Instead of using magnetic headings and tracks, we use true headings and tracks. Since the Arctic is one of the least populated regions on Earth, the great circle route avoids potentially crowded airspace and allows airlines to reduce pollution due to the altitude at which aircraft is able to fly. TPG values it at $1,600. "Well-planned is half done", says Aleksi Kuosmanen . It is located under the Mercer Subglacial Valley in Antarctica and has been estimated to be around 13 million years old. Air Berlin A330 Special Polar Flight - Flying over North Pole - YouTube 0:00 / 13:55 Air Berlin A330 Special Polar Flight - Flying over North Pole Sam Chui 3.23M subscribers 481K. Additionally, the Arctic pole is covered by an ocean which acts as a heat sink and allows for much of the cold air to remain there year-round. Communication also becomes difficult because, like the GPS satellites, many of the communication satellites do not have a foot print in the polar regions. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Despite training and equipment, no permanent human settlement or infrastructure is possible on Antarctica, so aircraft mostly fly over Antarctica instead of landing there. Our fact-checkers review each article to ensure that all the information presented is accurate, relevant and up-to-date. Simply put, not really. The greatest worry about ionizing radiation is the increased risk of malignant diseases and genetic malfunctions. The discovery of Lake Mercer was made possible with the help of satellite gravity measurements, which locate the lake under the ice by detecting slight differences in the subsurface. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. The Arctic pole is located in the Northern Hemisphere and experiences long, cold winters and very short, cool summers, while the Antarctic pole is located in the Southern Hemisphere and experiences very long, cold, dark winters and very short, cool summers. We are all more environmentally conscious than before, and jet fuel pumps an inconsiderable amount of pollutants into the air. While youre seated enjoying a glass of wine in a pleasant 70 degree Fahrenheit cabin, outside your window its bitterly cold, normally around minus 67 degrees Fahrenheit in temperate regions. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. This is known as the solar wind and consists primarily of protons and electrons. If you look at the image above, you'll see that the magnetic field is thickest at the equator and virtually nonexistent at the poles. It is not currently possible to fly to Antarctica for the majority of people. most reputable and up-to-date sources, which are also cited in the text. Air France and KLM followed this trail in 1957, KLM also with the DC-7C and Air France with the Lockheed L-1649 Starliner. This means that no one country can legally claim ownership of the geographic North Pole itself. Cond Nast Traveler may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. We were overhead of a medium-sized airport and landed about12 minutes later, being met by an advance life support team. All of that is lacking in the case of Antarctica. Aircraft engines are not typically built to withstand temperatures below -50 degrees Celsius that are typical at higher altitudes over the North Pole. Simply board a flight, and you can be there in hours. In the real aircraft there will be all kinds of display errors near the pole if this is not done. In fact, because of the spherical shape of the Earth, it actually ends up saving time. These currents are hundreds of miles wide and flow at thousands of miles an hour as the earth rotates. Yes, planes could fly over the south pole just as more than 5,000 flights pass over the north pole each year. However, any flight across the Poles requires a bit more thought before departure. The Arctic pole is colder due to its proximity to the North Pole, where temperatures are consistently colder year-round. This is because Earth's magnetic field is almost non-existent at this point which increases exposure to solar . Ronald Amundsen flew over the North Pole as leader of an aerial expedition to the polar ice caps between the European and North American continents. . It is in effect the "top" of the earth. Airline crew are categorized as "radiation workers" by the U.S. federal government, a classification that includes X-ray technicians and nuclear power plant workers. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. We did everything we could to get her to medical care safely and quickly. The lab-leak theory has been strongly rejected by China. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. Fortunately, we had two doctors onboard to help her; they rapidly determined she needed advanced care immediately. The use of the polar tracks is similar to those crossing the Atlantic. altitude, speed, etc. Yet, flying directly over the North Pole is extremely difficult and uncommon due to the dangerous climate conditions in the North Pole, and the regions complete lack of infrastructure. Pilots have been taking advantage of this route since the early days of air travel, and passenger jets now use the route routinely. All this infrastructure is completely absent from Antarctica, so flying over Antarctica is similar to flying over the open Ocean, which is also dangerous. However, as the polar tracks are less busy than the North Atlantic ones, pilots can normally plan on flying the track at the altitude and speed of their choice, normally those optimum for the flight. John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems. Since aircraft tend to fly as fast as they are designed, normally the only viable option is to descend. New Zealand is relatively close to the continent, and so the thinking went that short flights could take off from and land back there. The first verified flight over the North Pole was completed on the 12th of May 1926 by Ronald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile. Learn more. This isn't because the pilots are lost, its because it is actually the most direct route. However, most commercial airplanes can fly at 30,000 feet." She added, "So to fly at a safe distance above the Himalayas . As a result of this gap in the shield, a greater amount of radiation gets into the earth's atmosphere at the poles than at the equator. For one thing, there must be at least two cold weather anti-exposure suits on the aircraft. Because of all these points of concern, there are sadly far too many things that can go wrong and lead to an aircraft running into danger in these polar regions. By far the longest migration known in the animal kingdom, this medium-sized bird travels 90,000 km (55,923 mi) from pole to pole every year from Greenland in the North to the Weddell Sea in the South. And you can see the planned routes for different flights, incl. Robert's articles have been published in major publications, including Insider, Trip Savvy, ZDNet, and Bored Panda. If this happens, the crew have two options. "Flying through the North Pole is very challenging and airline companies send their best and experienced pilots on this route. The Antarctic pole, on the other hand, is land locked and does not have an ocean to help keep temperatures cold. Transpolar flights have been in operation since the 1950s but the benefits of flying commercial jets over the pole were outweighed by the risks; until only recently. Its possible that this type of study may even uncover more subglacial lakes that are smaller and more difficult to detect. When on a long-haul flight, you might not think of flying over the North Pole, but doing so can cut flight time down to a fraction of what it might take to fly directly in an east-west direction. The location's isolation makes it hard for planes to communicate with flight controllers. Even people who work in Antarctica undergo months of intensive training for adjusting to the icy continents climate. This can add to the cost and hassle for airlines, adding yet another reason why they are reluctant to fly over the North Pole. The fastest possible distance between two points is a straight line. For example, by some estimates, a polar route may be able to shave as many as four hours off a flight from New York to Hong Kong. It has a strength and a direction -- and . More than three years after Covid-19 was detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the question of how the virus first emerged remains a mystery. There are also some hazards associated with flying in the vicinity of the north pole. The lack of airports for diversions, extreme weather and navigation challenges are a few of the considerations. Robert is a seasoned flyer who knows more about commercial air travel than practically anyone else out there due to the decades he has been involved in the travel industry, and time spent at airports and on planes over the years for work. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This is not performed alone, however, as it requires special support and assistance. Additionally, all visitors to the continent must be prepared for the harshest of environments, including extreme temperatures, snow and ice, as well as potential danger from creatures of the land and sea. Fiji straddles the 180-degree line of longitude, and the most direct track passes directly over the North Pole - though because of the distance, over 10,000 miles, the payload would need to be . Only four-engine airplanes could fly such a route because of the diversion airport requirement for twin-engine airplanes. Despite air traffic controller guidance, the suddenly changing weather of Antarctica still makes flying over the continent very difficult. Next, it flew over the South Pole and landed in New Zealand before taking off again and . Barring Air India, no other airline operating between India and the US has evinced interest in flying over North Pole.

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