Qantas A380 to fly over Antarctica for New Year's Eve
CRAIG PLATT
September 11, 2009 - 4:49PM
History will be made on New Year's Eve with the first A380 superjumbo flight over Antarctica.
Antarctica Sightseeing Flights has chartered a Qantas A380 for a passenger flight over polar terrain. The flight will be over Antarctica at midnight and passengers will be the first in the world to see the sun rise on 2010.
The New Year's Eve flight to Antarctica will be under the command of Qantas pilot Captain John Dennis, who has flown more than 40 of the 85 previous Boeing 747 flights to the ice. He will be accompanied by two other senior pilots for the inaugural A380 journey.
The sightseeing flight will not land in Antarctica, but typically flies a figure-eight route crossing the polar icecap, flying over the South Magnetic Pole, the French scientific base at Dumont d'Urville, rugged coastal cliffs, massive glaciers and finally the Trans-Antarctic Range before returning to Australia.
The journey will take about 11 1/2 hours and cover some 9500 kilometres, including up to four hours above the Antarctic terrain.
The flight will depart from Sydney but fly via Melbourne to pick up more passengers.
Pylon101 From Russia, joined Feb 2008, 1391 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 13826 times:
Interesting, how many cameras are usually installed on A-380?
Not many people will have access to windows.
So they are supposed to translate cameras' views on monitors.
For such a unique flight that's quite cheap, isn't it?
Quoting 777ER (Reply 2): Everyone on the flight has access to a window so no need to worry about not getting any views
Yeah, but in a rotating fashion, so not all have access to windows all the time. Part of the flight is at night anyway.
So what in-flight cameras do QF (and EK and SQ) A380s have? There's one in the vertical stabilizer, as I recall from A380 documentary, anywhere else? I loved EK's look-ahead and look-down inflight cameras on their B777 and A332.
Would be cool to get some footage from this flight too.
Those Antarctic sightseeing flights by QF and NZ are fascinating and frightening at the same time...
NZ107 From New Zealand, joined Jul 2005, 5672 posts, RR: 40 Reply 5, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 13495 times:
Quoting Borism (Reply 4): Those Antarctic sightseeing flights by QF and NZ are fascinating and frightening at the same time...
I don't think NZ have operated an Antarctic flight since TE901 crashed on Erebus.. And I doubt QF's planes would drop below such an altitude which would cause it to crash on the side of a mountain.. Sounds as though it could be frightening though.
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, RR: 40 Reply 6, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 13467 times:
I am sorry folks but the Airbus test flight crew and engineers hav already circumnavigated the world with their A380 testing machine flying over both the South and North Poles on the same voyage.
I am not sure if the frame was DD or OW but I can have it confirmed by the Airbus test pilots who were on boarrd. I met them in Sydney and went on board the aircraft during their layover while they were on their RTW trip.
Good on QF though for offering such a nice trip to Joe Public. I remember they used to have such trips using B-747s. I would go and share the experience if I did not live so far away.
Edited: I found a video of the Airbus test plane South Pole flyover on Youtube!
I can see my test pilots people in the cockpit: Claude Lelaie, Jacques Rosay and Guy Magrin.
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, RR: 40 Reply 8, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 13315 times:
Quoting Borism (Reply 7): unbelievable (that I haven't heard anything about it before)!
The only reason I knew about it is because we had planeed a meet-up en route before they went for their RTW trip.
Qantas is going to be done with real people, passengers, no testing equipment, a good time on board and lots of wonderful sights. Wish I could go... really!
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
NWADC9 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 4859 posts, RR: 10 Reply 11, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 12233 times:
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, RR: 40 Reply 14, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 11215 times:
Besides the fact that this is not truly the First A380 flight above Antarctica, the Airbus people have done it before, I gather that this flight will not get you the Frequent Flyer Miles or other advantages such as upgrades as it will be chartered by a third party.
It makes me think of the big liners, like when Cunard and theiri travel agents used to sell the inside cabins with no portholes or whatever view possibilities on the QE2 for so cheap compared to anything that had a view.
I hope those who will buy those middle seats in the middle seats will be treated to some viewing during the flight. I can imagine the pilots will "bend" the aircraft left and right and make twists and turns so to get better views of the frozen ground.
Only those in F will get the Full Monty with servings of Krug and caviar and Lobster Thermidor during the flight.
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
Trojanclipper From United States of America, joined Nov 2008, 63 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 9715 times:
For the Millennium, I took a Russian icebreaker from Lyttleton, New Zealand to Hobart, through the Ross Sea with helicpopter and Zodiac trips on land. Although it was daylight the whole time south of the circle (26 days), there were some days of bad weather. I'd hate to pay for a first class ticket and get to see nothing, the pilots of the ill-fated New Zealand flight couldn't even find their bearings, rest their souls. A rotating ticket in Y would be fun, nothing else than to say one did it!
The ice is fantastic and on a clear day, it would be just as good, and a bit warmer, from the air as the ground! Bon Voyage to those who take this trip. I would do it !!!
Dsuairptman From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 808 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 8783 times:
This is a type of flight I would like to take. I wonder how many GPS units the crew will rely on for positioning over the true South Pole? There was a German airline that did a one off trip to the North Pole not that long ago and used no less than 4 GPS units to configure there position in relation to true North.
Borism From Estonia, joined Oct 2006, 431 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 8180 times:
Quoting Murchmo (Reply 16): I missed something...what part of this would be frightening?
Umm, I dunno, like maybe being 5+ hours away from the nearest diversion airport? And this over one of the most inhospitable terrain (and seas) on Earth which have been first visited mere 100 years ago and only by few people. And maybe because of memory of NZ 901 too.
Even if I'd do north pole flights every week, I'd consider Antarctic flight quite extraordinary.
Quoting NWADC9 (Reply 11): Those are the cheap seats - the middle seats of the middle seats. They don't rotate to see outside.
AFGMEL From Australia, joined Jul 2007, 734 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7916 times:
I have been on one of these QF flights before. (free ticket!!). While I didn't have a window seat, the crew ask the other pax to allow other people to see. There are plenty of opportunities to sight see and we also peered through emergency exit windows. I have some crappy pics somewhere. It's a festive atmosphere if you like that sort of thing. Personally I will be asleep at 12pm on NYE but I am old and grumpy.
Even still, I would recommend it and I am not a people person.
Foxecho From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 724 posts, RR: 19 Reply 21, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 7515 times:
Quoting Tayser (Thread starter):
Qantas A380 to fly over Antarctica for New Year's Eve
Dude I owe you a beer for the notice- I just faxed my down-payment for the A380 on 24 Jan ....how to figure out how to get off work for it...
Quoting NWADC9 (Reply 11):
Those are the cheap seats - the middle seats of the middle seats. They don't rotate to see outside.
I'm sure I'll get to see out a door or something...
NZ107 From New Zealand, joined Jul 2005, 5672 posts, RR: 40 Reply 22, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 6449 times:
Quoting Foxecho (Reply 21): Dude I owe you a beer for the notice- I just faxed my down-payment for the A380 on 24 Jan ....how to figure out how to get off work for it...
I'm expecting a TR on it Andrew :P The WHOLE Antarctic experience including CHC and the AKL memorial lol.
SSTsomeday From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 1276 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 5306 times:
Quoting 777ER (Reply 2): Everyone on the flight has access to a window so no need to worry about not getting any views
Haven't flown on her yet... but isn't the angle of the upper deck windows somewhat prohibitive for viewing the ground at altitude? Or is the difference negligible? And are the dimensions of the windows not a little smaller than on the 747, and further apart? Am I making that up?
NZ107 From New Zealand, joined Jul 2005, 5672 posts, RR: 40 Reply 24, posted (3 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 5246 times:
Quoting SSTsomeday (Reply 23): but isn't the angle of the upper deck windows somewhat prohibitive for viewing the ground at altitude?
I'd say the wing would be the most annoying thing. The top deck windows aren't angled in too much but mind you the windows themselves are rather small. For a normal sized person, I'd say you'll have a good view. Too bad there aren't any toilets with windows for Y.. Or I'd buy a cheap seat and then take up the lav for the entire time over the ice
26 MadameConcorde: Is there a website to buy the tickets? Just curious. I suppose the flight will be filled very quickly at least the cheap seats. I would definitely go
27 T8KE0FF: Its a shame because we get the antartica flight from ADL, but no more
28 NZ107: Follow this link to get to their homepage: http://www.antarcticaflights.com.au/
29 MadameConcorde: Thank you. I had to google it and found it as I wanted to send an email to all the members of our First to Fly the A380 group with both links. I am s
30 NZ107: Looks like those who will get the best value for their money would be those who manage to grab 79 B/C/H/J! Right next to amenities and only a metre a
31 MadameConcorde: This is a very cleverr observation! I wonder if it is the travel agent who will allocate the seats to the passengers or if we book the flight we can
33 MadameConcorde: I have emailed the travel agent to see if they still have one of these seats available. One of the members of our First to Fly group is already confi
34 NZ107: Yeah, even though the window is rather small, it's still a window! Good luck!
35 MadameConcorde: By the time I happened to read an email received from them regarding the New Year's Eve A380 Polar flight all the center seats were already sold and t
36 Grozzy: Sorry for coming in late- I have a couple of questions. What special requirements or special equipment do the antarctic planes need? I vaguely remembe
Sponsor Message: 
From Australia, joined Mar 2008, 1087 posts, 
From Russia, joined Feb 2008, 1391 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Dec 2003, 11319 posts, 
From Estonia, joined Oct 2006, 431 posts, 
From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, 
From Germany, joined Nov 2006, 4249 posts, 
From Canada, joined Mar 2008, 158 posts, 
From United States of America, joined May 2004, 4859 posts, 
From France, joined Apr 2005, 223 posts, 
From Faroe Islands, joined Sep 2007, 128 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
