While it is problematic to fly over the polar regions for the reasons stated, and the routes may not always be the most lucrative, they are nevertheless the straightest lines in a few cases. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. advertisement. There are technological, political, and logistical reasons that prevent planes from flying over the polar regions. The duration of our visit is largely determined by weather . If this happens, the crew have two options. 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. Well, the South Pole has always had a fearsome reputation, with its cold, icy, mountainous environment which is generally not very welcoming for humans. On the one hand, as demonstrated here, it is not impossible to fly near the North Pole. Flying over the North Pole also offers pilots the opportunity to experience unique views, including the spectacular midnight sun in summer months. However, sometimes its beneficial to deviate off this route to take advantage of (or to avoid) strong winds. Robert Davis Travel Management Consultant, 2023 Executive Flyers +1 (512) 241-0795. The speed of air over the wings creates friction, which actually heats the surfaces. They will not fly over the South Pole, but around Antarctica taking advantage of the strong winds which circle that continent in an . The most popular way to fly to Antarctica is the Fly-Cruise option, which is popular with tourists. The first verified flight over the North Pole was completed on the 12th of May 1926 by Ronald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile. However, in the South Pole route, the temperature stays around -60 degrees C making is next to impossible to travel in winters. "Well-planned is half done", says Aleksi Kuosmanen . They save time and cost on flights from North America and Europe to Asia. Last edited by Shreyans_Jain : 18th August 2019 at 14: . However, have you ever thought of whats hitting the aircraft from above? In conclusion, yes it is possible to fly over the North Pole, but its uncommon because of how dangerous it is at least if talking about flying directly over the North Pole. 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. Robert's articles have been published in major publications, including Insider, Trip Savvy, ZDNet, and Bored Panda. Radiation exposure in the North Pole also increases further at higher altitudes. The Jet A-1 powering the engines has a freezing point of minus 52 degrees Fahrenheit, so why doesnt the fuel freeze when its minus 67 degrees Fahrenheit outside? Should you get Global Entry or TSA PreCheck? It was the worst civil disaster in New Zealand's history! Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. 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". 16 Days. Planes flying in the North Pole, thus, need to have equipment that can compensate for this as best as possible. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. 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. This reduces the amount of heat that can reach the Arctic pole and makes for a colder environment. Your email address will not be published. Whats more, it could also be a huge benefit for any airline companies making that trip. A: Some routes from North America fly over or near the North Pole because it is faster than flying the traditional tracks to Asia. The main reason that the South Pole is so much colder than the North Pole is because of the strength of the winds blowing around the poles. Whilst this isnt a problem for individual flights, it could start to pose problems for those who fly these routes frequently. Yes, planes could fly over the south pole just as more than 5,000 flights pass over the north pole each year. At higher altitudes, it takes more fuel to travel the same distance, which makes it more expensive for airlines to fly over this area. "Flying through the North Pole is very challenging and airline companies send their best and experienced pilots on this route. The cold climate means that there is very little vegetation and resources for human life. Ice formation on the windshield can cause temporary blindness that impairs navigation. Why is it difficult to fly over the North Pole? It's because planes travel along the shortest route in a 3-dimensional space. 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 . A: Some routes from North America fly over or near the North Pole because it is faster than flying the traditional tracks to Asia. 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. While it may seem like Arctic airspace is a veritable thoroughfare for long-haul flights, the story is very different in the Southern Hemisphere. Once again, the risks of ionizing radiation very much depend on the amount of exposure. To Reduce Flight Hours 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. On the other hand, these severe limitations can make it feel that way. Next, it flew over the South Pole and landed in New Zealand before taking off again and . Air France was the first to operate commercial jet service over the North Pole on the routing Tokyo - Anchorage - Hamburg - Paris on 18 February 1960 using Boeing 707-328 Intercontinental equipment. As the charged incoming particles hit the magnetic field, they are deflected away and are prevented from coming into contact with the atmosphere. Read more: Perfect landing: How pilots avoid colliding with the ground in tricky situations. All Antarctic expeditions must have a leader who has the appropriate qualifications and experience, and any individual embarking on the trip must have a valid passport and appropriate visas. Yes, planes do fly over the North Pole to save time. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Militaries from countries such as the US and Russia have planes and crews that are outfitted for the areas extreme cold. Race to the North Pole If you're curious to know why planes fly . Since aircraft tend to fly as fast as they are designed, normally the only viable option is to descend. However, there is a weakness in the magnetic field. 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. There are also other major reasons why flying over Antarctica is dangerous: Antarctica has a very hostile climate that makes it unsuitable for human activities, including flight. Planes are more difficult to navigate in the polar regions because of the interference with magnetic equipment. As the aircraft climbs, the outside air temperature decreases. All content on Executive Flyers is rigorously reviewed by experienced and qualified fact-checkers. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. Why Dont Planes Fly Over the Kaaba and Mecca? Over the polar regions, due to inversions where cold air is trapped nearer to the surface, the air at lower altitudes may actually be colder than that at higher altitudes. Fast Fact H0H 0H0 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. These currents are hundreds of miles wide and flow at thousands of miles an hour as the earth rotates. Furthermore, with military activity being sensitive in these regions, aircraft flying there would have to deal with the added scrutiny that comes with that. Along with the radiation issues, flying over the North Pole presents some safety issues, in part because of the lack of places to land in an emergency (a concern when flying over the Pacific Ocean . Be sure to grab a window seat if youre flying from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, as its not only travelers to East Asia who are privy to Arctic sights; routes to the Middle East from the West Coast also often pass over the area near the North Pole. Learn more. Check here before booking an award fare. The real problem is where you're going to fly from and to. Added to this, parts of the magnetic field deflect the incoming particles to the areas around the poles. 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. Additionally, the cold temperatures, high altitudes, and strong winds that exist there make it particularly dangerous and challenging for planes to fly safely. Planes often depend on towers, airports, and other on-the-ground infrastructure to safely take off, land, and navigate during flights. Occasional photo flights on chartered Qantas Boeing 747s make special trips for Antarctica flight-seeing, but the standard for Antarctic tourism remains epic voyage by ship. Why is there no transpolar route over the South Pole for flights from Australia to South America, for example? 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. Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett are said to have flown over the North Pole in a Fokker F-VII in 1926, but this claim is challenged. 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. Moreover, with commercial travel around these points low, the incentive to do so is even lesser. Travel north through icebound waters and join the exclusive list of intrepid explorers who have visited the geographical North. 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. Finally, there is also the fact that being so near the poles can also create problems with your ability to communicate with others via radio. All this infrastructure is completely absent from Antarctica, so flying over Antarctica is similar to flying over the open Ocean, which is also dangerous. The location's isolation makes it hard for planes to communicate with flight controllers. 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. 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. Antarctica is devoid of any of those. A SELCAL notification activates in the flight deck, very much like a phone ringing, to let the crew know that ATC needs to speak with them. 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. This is where the difference between impossibility and impracticality rears its head. Even more important than saving money is saving the environment. There are many huge challenges, but it is not technically impossible, and the economic and environmental rationale may be growing. However, most commercial airplanes can fly at 30,000 feet." She added, "So to fly at a safe distance above the Himalayas . Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. 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. 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. Antarctica is a no-fly zone due to a variety of environmental factors and considerations. The TI does not directly indicate which way geodesics will curve. The First Flight Over the North Pole The early 20 th century saw a time of extensive polar exploration. Furthermore, the continent is home to some of the worlds most unique wildlife species, and its isolated ecosystem is essential to their survival. This is because Earth's magnetic field is almost non-existent at this point which increases exposure to solar . So, flying over the South Pole is not desirable given the harsh conditions of the region. The site specifically says: Fly to the South Pole, where all 360 lines of longitude meet and in a few steps you can walk around the world. Additionally, strong winds, low visibility and the potential for ice build-up also make flying over the North Pole difficult and potentially dangerous for aircraft. 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. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. When a plane does fly over the arctic the pilot will often descend to an altitude of around 10,000 feet, this is done to prevent fuel from . There are numerous challenges to flying transpolar. For the most part, this is the type of radiation we put up with day to day, utilizing the benefits to rapidly heat food in our microwaves and give our skin a much sought-after sun-kissed glow. History of polar routes. The location's isolation makes it hard for planes to communicate with flight controllers. 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