Aircontact is once again part of creating history – First landing of Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica

Aircontact, in collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Institute and Norse Atlantic Airways, has played a role in making history by organizing the first landing of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Troll Airfield (QAT) in Antarctica. The landing took place at 02:01 local time on Thursday, November 16, 2023.7-300.

On board the aircraft N0787 were 45 passengers, including researchers from the Norwegian Polar Institute and other countries, en route to various stations in Antarctica. The flight also transported 12 tons of essential research equipment. Departing from Oslo on November 13, the Dreamliner made a stop in Cape Town, South Africa, before embarking on the challenging Antarctic leg. After leaving Cape Town at 23:03 on Wednesday, the aircraft spent over 40 hours in South Africa before the historic landing at Troll Airfield. Antarctica lacks conventional asphalt runways; therefore, Norse Atlantic Airways landed on a «blue ice runway,» 3000 meters long and 60 meters wide, at Troll Airfield. The Norwegian Polar Institute operates the research station located in Jutulsessen in Queen Maud Land, approximately 235 kilometers from the coast.

Aircontact is proud of its collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Institute. The partnership has been ongoing since 2007, when Aircontact organized its first flight to Troll with a Gulfstream III in 2007. Each year, we have gathered valuable experience, and the Norwegian Polar Institute has improved the facilities at Troll each year to make this flight possible. While every flight is special, and all the operators we have collaborated with have been of the highest standard, there is no doubt that it is something truly special to be part of organizing the first landing with the Dreamliner Boeing 787 at Troll.

We thank the Norwegian Polar Institute and Norse Atlantic Airways for excellent collaboration.

Photo: Norse Atlantic