Aerospace

The First 787 Dreamliner Lands in Antarctica with Norse Atlantic Airways

Pioneering Polar Exploration: Norse Atlantic Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner Touches Down at Troll Airfield

Norse Atlantic Airways, recognized as The Explorer’s Airline, proudly commemorates a historic milestone in aviation by successfully landing its Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with registration LN-FNC and christened “Everglades,” at Troll Airfield (QAT) in Antarctica. This groundbreaking moment occurred at 02:01 local time on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023.

Flight N0787 carried 45 passengers

In collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Institute and Aircontact, Scandinavia’s premier air brokerage firm, Norse Atlantic Airways spearheaded this pioneering mission to transport essential research equipment and scientists to the remote Troll research station in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.

Flight N0787 carried 45 passengers, including scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute and other nations, bound for various research stations in Antarctica. The flight also transported 12 tons of vital research equipment crucial for Antarctic exploration.

Commencing its journey from Oslo on November 13th, the Dreamliner made a stop in Cape Town, South Africa, before embarking on the challenging Antarctic leg.

Departing Cape Town at 23:03 on Wednesday, the aircraft spent over 40 hours in South Africa before accomplishing its historic landing at Troll Airfield.

first 787 Dreamliner to land in Antarctica

Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways, expressed immense pride and honor in achieving this historic milestone:

“It is a great honor and excitement on behalf of the entire team at Norse that we have achieved together this momentous landing of the first 787 Dreamliner. In the spirit of exploration, we are proud to have a hand in this important and unique mission.

It is a true testament to our highly trained and skilled pilots and crew, and our state-of-the-art Boeing aircraft.”

Given Antarctica’s lack of conventional paved runways, Norse Atlantic Airways executed the landing on a ‘blue ice runway,’ measuring 3,000 meters in length and 60 meters in width, at Troll Airfield.

The Norwegian Polar Institute operates the research station situated in Jutulsessen in Queen Maud Land, approximately 235 kilometers from the coast.

Camilla Brekke, Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, emphasized the environmental benefits of utilizing large and modern aircraft like the 787 Dreamliner for operations at Troll:

“The most crucial aspect is the environmental gain we can achieve by using large and modern aircraft of this type for Troll. This can help reduce overall emissions and the environmental footprint in Antarctica,” stated Brekke, underscoring that landing such a large aircraft opens up new logistics possibilities at Troll, contributing to strengthening Norwegian research in Antarctica.

Daniel Carey, air broker and spokesperson for Aircontact stressed the importance of involving civil aviation authorities for operational quality and security, securing their approval ahead of the mission.

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.