At 12.49 p.m. (NZST), the aircraft crashed into the lower slopes of Mt Erebus killing all 237 passengers and 20 crew on board. This isn't because the pilots are lost, its because it is actually the most direct route. According to aviation experts, flying over the North Pole is extremely technical and requires skill and experience. What kind of air traffic would benefit from a straight line cutting across the North or South Pole? ETOPS governs how far away twin-engine jets can fly from an airport they can land at. By definition, the routes are particularly isolated and careful consideration has to be given to diversion airfields. However, it would present an occupational hazard for pilots and attendants as they are exposed to high levels of radiation. "Flying through the North Pole is very challenging and airline companies send their best and experienced pilots on this route. A: No, flight management computers are rigorously tested for any issues crossing the North or South Pole or the international dateline. This is not performed alone, however, as it requires special support and assistance. 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. However, many myths and legends have been woven around this isolated continent. The Hollow Earth expos also showcases video from an ISS flyover of Antarctica,. Finally, there are additional regulations that airlines must adhere to when flying over the North Pole. The discovery of this subglacial lake inspires renewed enthusiasm for exploration of the vast continent of Antarctica and provides valuable insight into what lies beneath the ice. As the radiation depends more on the route than the altitude, there is little we as pilots can do to reduce the exposure when flying these routes. Consequently, the no-fly zone has been established. 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. Over land with many airports, this is no problem. A celebration will ensue, including champagne toasts, photographs to document your arrival and a call home from the top of the world. This is all very interesting but what relevance does it have to commercial aviation? If a plane lands in Antarctica, it will have no access to assistance or infrastructure, which makes flying especially risky. 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 . Even for the frequent flyer, the doses of radiation experienced on normal flights are not considered to be excessive. It could also be beneficial for other routes. In the North Pole, the minimum temperature stays around -40 degrees C, and by lowering the altitude, pilots get the plane to a higher temperature. This also happens in the Arctic, but winds surrounding the North Pole are not as strong. Once again, the risks of ionizing radiation very much depend on the amount of exposure. 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. Its technically possible to fly over the South Pole, and many flights have been completed over it. 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. There are no scheduled commercial flights over south pole- in fact, there are none over Antarctica. Q: When crossing the North Pole, are there any interferences with navigation instruments? The lack of such an infrastructure can make flying over Antarctica like flying over the sea. Whilst cosmic radiation should not be of concern to most passengers, it's an occupational hazard of the job for the crew. The location's isolation makes it hard for planes to communicate with flight controllers. This is because missiles and rockets make use of the Earths rotation in part to generate the lift necessary to gain trajectory. During an overwater or transpolar flight, it could be several hours before a landing could be made. TPG values it at $1,600. 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). Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Losing both can be calamitous. Hence, flying over the North Pole reduces flight time. As the aircraft climbs, the outside air temperature decreases. In 2019, a team of scientists made an incredible discovery under the ice in Antarctica. The real problem is where you're going to fly from and to. These currents are hundreds of miles wide and flow at thousands of miles an hour as the earth rotates. Much has been made of these regions as danger zones for planes but are they really? Antarctica is devoid of any of those. It was the worst civil disaster in New Zealand's history! Ionizing radiation, such as cosmic rays, X-rays and that from radioactive material is the kind which tends to get peoples' attention. This is because Earth's magnetic field is almost non-existent at this point which increases exposure to solar . If passengers need immediate care, how quickly can/would a plane land? The closer something is to the polar region, the less they are able to accomplish this. As a result, its position can be determined by GPS, increasing our navigational accuracy. Learn more. 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 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. All of that is lacking in the case of Antarctica. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. The geographic poles are defined to be the places where the earth's rotation axis crosses the surface of the earth, and the magnetic poles are the places where the magnetic field points straight into or out of the earth's surface. 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. For modern airliners, flying over the North Pole has become a relatively mundane affair. A system called SELCAL enables the crew to turn the volume off when they are not communicating with ATC. By knowing the airspeed, you can work out what this heating effect will be. However, those who fly on these commercial flights can view spectacular views of Mount Everest, the glaciers and mountain peaks that surround it. Some of this radiation is useful and other types are not so useful. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3-0');The cost of the fuel required to fly over the North Pole is also higher, adding to the difficulty of navigating this route. Launching into a polar orbit is more difficult than launching into an equatorial orbit, due to the motion of the Earth. 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. Even people who work in Antarctica undergo months of intensive training for adjusting to the icy continents climate. However, that is simply not the case. advertisement. 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. Planes can fly over the Arctic, however they do not tend to fly over the pole, primarily due to the pole having the ability to interfere with navigation systems which can cause technological problems. In fact, most of it is southwest. Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth, with an average temperature around -56 C in the winter. Furthermore, the continent is home to some of the worlds most unique wildlife species, and its isolated ecosystem is essential to their survival. On the other hand, these severe limitations can make it feel that way. All visitors must land on the continent with the permission of their own government and must abide by the Antarctic Treaty System regulations in place, which are designed to protect both travelers and the environment. Air travel could be changed by the challenges being faced. Cosmic radiation originates from two sources. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Your email address will not be published. In addition near the magnetic north pole compasses are nearly useless due to "dip" in the needle amongst other things. 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. In the past, this has led to fatal crashes. Simply board a flight, and you can be there in hours. For an even better view, because of their pioneering spirit, some brave pilots have chosen to fly higher than the commercial flights and have even flown above the summit of Mount Everest. The hazardous conditions over the North Pole have resulted in multiple previous fatal crashes, which were compounded due to the difficulties of launching rescue attempts in the region. 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. Fortunately, we had two doctors onboard to help her; they rapidly determined she needed advanced care immediately. Jet fuel is expensive, so anywhere airlines can cut down on it can help them save money. The poles were the last terrestrial locations that had yet to be reached by humans. Airlines flying from North America and Europe to Asia can save time and costly fuel by flying over the North Pole instead of in a straight line around the widening globe. 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. 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. Flying over Antarctica is even more remote, and the demand is lower. However, in the South Pole route, the temperature stays around -60 degrees C making is next to impossible to travel in winters. most reputable and up-to-date sources, which are also cited in the text. Coldest continent on Earth, with an average temperature around -56 C the... 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