Communications can also be problematic. 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. is a senior first officer on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with over 10,000 hours of flying experience, both around Europe on the A320 family and worldwide on the B787. 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. But that simply is not true, with one of the most famous limitations being the North and South Poles. Since Antarctica has been almost completely inaccessible until recently, theories about the unknown have abounded. Richard E. Byrd and Chief Aviation Pilot Floyd Bennett won the race to fly over the North Pole, a daring expedition that earned them rare peacetime Medals of Honor. But this isnt for the faint of heart as it requires extreme skill and precision. Polar orbiting satellites are generally in inclined orbits to keep the orbit "frozen", if they did not do this then the orbit would drift. This is another danger factor of flying over polar regions that far too often goes unnoticed the weather and topography. Last edited by Shreyans_Jain : 18th August 2019 at 14: . However, due to the extreme climate and environment, there are several safety and logistical considerations that need to be taken into account before travelling to Antarctica. Hence, flying over the North Pole reduces flight time. (Library of Congress/Getty Images)) Icy winds swept across Spitsbergen, an island group on the Arctic Circle north of Norway. Needless to say, this is not an expenditure that most commercial airliners would be willing to make. Erebus, the second-largest mountain in Antarctica. Then there is the fact that, while it may seem like a short distance on a globe, the distance covered over the polar regions are more vast than you might think. Flying over Antarctica is even more remote, and the demand is lower. As a result, its position can be determined by GPS, increasing our navigational accuracy. 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. I have no idea if this switch is operational in MSFS, or if so, whether it has the desired effect. World's longest nonstop flight: Tickets now on sale. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Such as pilots and flight attendants. The North Pole is now the key to cost-efficient air routes between North America and the Far East. Executives hint at an answer. Apart from the snowstorms that cause visibility problems, Antarcticas strong magnetic fields also affect navigational equipment. Fast Fact H0H 0H0 However, if you've ever flown from London to the west coast of the U.S. and watched the moving map, you will have noticed that the flight initially routes north toward Scotland. In fact, because of the spherical shape of the Earth, it actually ends up saving time. By subscribing to our newsletter(s) you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. But on 28 February 2023 the controversial claim that the pandemic might have leaked from a Chinese laboratory - once dismissed by many as a fringe . 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. Should an emergency occur while your plane is high over the Arctic, the flight crew will be ready with pre-planned diversion airports (not that Tiksi, Russia or Alert, Nunavut are ideal surprise stops on your vacation). Planes flying in the North Pole, thus, need to have equipment that can compensate for this as best as possible. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Only four-engine airplanes could fly such a route because of the diversion airport requirement for twin-engine airplanes. Generally, flights from Europe to North America will take a northerly route over Greenland and Canada, while flights from North America to Asia will take a southerly route over Alaska and Russia. A December 2019 study looked to see whether the length of the flight or the routing of the flight had the greatest effect on the amount of radiation an aircraft was exposed to. However, any flight across the Poles requires a bit more thought before departure. However, those who fly on these commercial flights can view spectacular views of Mount Everest, the glaciers and mountain peaks that surround it. This reduces the amount of heat that can reach the Arctic pole and makes for a colder environment. If civil airliners from US or Europe regularly fly over the North Pole, surely, navigation must also not be that much of a problem. Specifically, these special flights must be supported by ground teams stationed at various places along the flight path equipped with oxygen tanks and medical equipment. Ice forming on the wings can weigh them down considerably, to say nothing of the damage that strong winds and moisture can do. If passengers need immediate care, how quickly can/would a plane land? Instead of flying west over North America and the Pacific, the plane turns due north and arcs up and over the North Pole before descending down over Russia and China into Hong Kong. As the aircraft gets closer to the Pole, the magnetic compass becomes less reliable as the position of the aircraft relative to the Pole is changing so quickly. For example, trips to Antarctica once seemed like they had the potential to become another popular tourist destination. Why Planes Fly Over the North Pole but Not the South Pole: With Sam Denby. In Arctic areas, it can get even colder, minus 97 degrees Fahrenheit over Siberia is my personal record. It can damage the skin and eyes (hence why we wear sunglasses and sunscreen) and if it penetrates the body, can cause damage to organs by heating them. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. This is the temperature youd feel if you were stood on a passing cloud. The first flight over the North Pole is disputed by some authorities. Yet, the South Pole is extremely difficult to fly over due to the dangerous icy conditions and mountainous terrain. Now transpolar routes are common. No, people are not forbidden to go to Antarctica. The lack of infrastructure, such as airports, roads, or cities, make it difficult for humans to inhabit and survive in the harsh environment. 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. However, have you ever thought of whats hitting the aircraft from above? The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. For one thing, while the region is still sensitive militarily, we are nowhere near the levels of Cold War paranoia that pervaded the world and that region in particular for decades. However, unlike the North Atlantic tracks which move in location depending on the winds, the polar tracks are fixed. Planes are using gyrocompasses which in fact are unable to follow true north about poles. Fortunately, we had two doctors onboard to help her; they rapidly determined she needed advanced care immediately. When doctors deal with in-flight emergencies, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-banner-1','ezslot_14',157,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-banner-1','ezslot_15',157,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-banner-1-0_1');.banner-1-multi-157{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. A: The wind would be a major consideration, as would any airspace congestion. In service, there is no problem. They save time and cost on flights from North America and Europe to Asia. These flights typically dont go much higher than 35,000 feet though, which is still well below the peak of Mount Everest which stands at 29,029 feet. 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. At first there were many disputed claims of reaching the North Pole from various people. Moreover, with commercial travel around these points low, the incentive to do so is even lesser. The first verified flight over the North Pole was completed on the 12th of May 1926 by Ronald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile. Q: What happens in air when there is a medical emergency? While it may seem like Arctic airspace is a veritable thoroughfare for long-haul flights, the story is very different in the Southern Hemisphere. It is possible that, if flying for prolonged periods in extremely cold air masses, the fuel temperature could drop toward the freezing point. I do not think it could be done much faster. Whilst this isnt a problem for individual flights, it could start to pose problems for those who fly these routes frequently. 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. Since Antarctica has no infrastructure, its not possible to land planes there during emergencies, so its undesirable to fly over it. Since aircraft tend to fly as fast as they are designed, normally the only viable option is to descend. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. most reputable and up-to-date sources, which are also cited in the text. They will not fly over the South Pole, but around Antarctica taking advantage of the strong winds which circle that continent in an . 2022-03-23T12:21:00Z However, the amount of radiation in the upper atmosphere remains higher than on the ground. Additionally, any scientific research carried out in Antarctica must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the relevant national treaty regime and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Having said that, commercial flights between Asian cities and North American cities that involve flying over part of the North Pole are relatively common. What kind of air traffic would benefit from a straight line cutting across the North or South Pole? advertisement. Pilots also need to be aware of and plan for these problems. the lines of longitude all meet at the poles, so the distance between these lines dec. This only became possible after Russia allowed commercial airliners to fly over Siberia in the early 1990s. Technically, yes, you can fly over Antarctica, but the difficult conditions of the icy continent make it difficult for most flights. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book - fly over the north pole to cut flight times down to size, save fuel and reduce costs. Polar weather remains icy cold, but the political climate has thawed since the fall of the Soviet . Why Some Planes Don't Fly Over the Gulf of Mexico. The speed of air over the wings creates friction, which actually heats the surfaces. Simply put, not really. During an overwater or transpolar flight, it could be several hours before a landing could be made. The ice affects the planes airflow, and it can reduce lift or potentially cause aerodynamic stall. North Pole in Luxury. On May 9, 1926, Lt. Cmdr. The main reason why humans cannot live on Antarctica is the climate. Airlines located within North America, Russia and Europe must obtain special permission from several different countries in order to fly over the North Pole. 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. 3 Reasons Why Planes Fly Over the North Pole 1. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Each aircraft type has a threshold at which the crew are alerted to low fuel temperature. Cosmic radiation originates from two sources. It gets to the point where pilots consider it totally useless. 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. Clearly, we do not need polar routes to do so. $38,190. Aircraft pilots often experience radio communication issues due to interference caused by solar activity on the North Pole. Robert's articles have been published in major publications, including Insider, Trip Savvy, ZDNet, and Bored Panda. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. In 2019, a team of scientists made an incredible discovery under the ice in Antarctica. Unlike the magnetic North Pole, the true North Pole doesn't move. The most obvious reason to do this is to save fuel. This is another danger factor of flying over polar regions that far too often goes unnoticed - the weather and topography. However, these limitations are being challenged, which could revolutionize air travel. This makes it illegal for any military presence in the continent. For one thing, there must be at least two cold weather anti-exposure suits on the aircraft. 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. 17.03.2022. Sea ice acts like a mirror and helps reflect sunlight and heat back into the atmosphere. Air India on Sunday become the 19th airline in the world to fly its plane over the North Pole. It's all around us and is, for the most part, unavoidable. "On the 28 November 1979, Air New Zealand Flight TE901 left Mangere airport, Auckland, for an 11-hour return sightseeing flight to Antarctica. These included flights to Los Angeles from Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. On the 787, that threshold is around minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit. The image above shows the routes taken to Los Angeles by flights from the three Middle Eastern hubs and also the route from London for comparison. The greatest worry about ionizing radiation is the increased risk of malignant diseases and genetic malfunctions. Today, the majority of long-haul airlines fly over the north pole when . Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. This is because "the Himalayas have mountains higher than 20,000 feet, including Mt Everest standing at 29,035 feet. When planning the route of a flight, airlines will naturally try and take the shortest route possible, the Great Circle track. ETOPS governs how far away twin-engine jets can fly from an airport they can land at. We were overhead of a medium-sized airport and landed about12 minutes later, being met by an advance life support team. 4- Navigation Problems In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. Richard Byrd (left) with Floyd Bennett, in front of their Fokker Tri-motor "Josephine Ford" before their flight over the North Pole on May 9, 1926. The Arctic pole is colder due to its proximity to the North Pole, where temperatures are consistently colder year-round. These currents are hundreds of miles wide and flow at thousands of miles an hour as the earth rotates. This is known as the solar wind and consists primarily of protons and electrons. Take an average spring day out of London where its 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Any information published by Cond Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. 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. 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. Ad Choices. Whats more, the flights that do take place in the region are often military in nature. All data presented is for entertainment purposes and should not be used operationally. Navigating in both polar regions requires some preparation or it becomes extremely challenging. This isn't because the pilots are lost, its because it is actually the most direct route. No matter what route your flight takes, your pilots will ensure that you arrive safely at your destination -- leaving you blissfully unaware of the challenges such flying poses.