In what has been hailed as a world-first, the plane landed on the icy conditions during Antarctica's summer evening.

A team of scientists broke new ground when a plane capable of carrying more than 300 passengers landed in Antarctica, with aviators hailing it as a world first.

The plane, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, successfully slipped down in Troll airfield on Wednesday night, while basking in Antarctica’s all-day summer sunlight.

Carrying a 45-strong team made up of researchers and staff from the Norwegian Polar Institute, the organisation said they managed to bring 12 tonnes of research equipment.

…

“The most important thing is the environmental benefits we can achieve by using large and modern aircraft of this type for Troll,” Ms Brekke said.

“This can help to reduce total emissions and the environmental footprint in Antarctica.”

  • bleistift2@feddit.deEnglish
    91·
    8 months ago

    If a plane can land with lots of scientific personnel on board, it can also land with tourists on board. And since it’s one big plane instead of 20 smaller ones, travel will get cheaper. It’s all but inevitable that this boosts Antarctica tourism.

    • Deme@lemmy.worldEnglish
      41·
      8 months ago

      Is there too much tourism in Antarctica? Yes.

      Is this it? No.

      If you think that the research institute operating the airstrip wants to have a tourist resort next door to their Antarctic research base, I do not know what to tell you.