Pilot Becomes First Person to Land Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica – Surreal Historic Images

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 14/01/2026 at 11:17

Boeing 787 pousa na Antártida em 2023, leva 45 pesquisadores e 12 toneladas a pista de gelo na Base Aérea de Troll.

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The Unique Landing of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica, Carried Out in November 2023 by a Pilot of Norse Atlantic Airways, Marked an Unprecedented Logistical Operation by Transporting 45 Researchers and 12 Tons of Scientific Equipment to a 9,840-Foot Ice Runway at Troll Air Base

The first landing of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica was carried out in November 2023 by a pilot of Norse Atlantic Airways, on an unprecedented mission that took 45 researchers and 12 tons of equipment to Troll Air Base, on an ice and snow runway.

Historical Landing on an Ice and Snow Runway

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Norse Atlantic Airways became the first aircraft of this model to land in Antarctica. The feat was captured in images deemed historical and shows the aircraft touching down on a runway made exclusively of ice and snow.

The aircraft landed at Troll Air Base, welcomed by a white strip in the Antarctic environment. The runway used is 9,840 feet (approx. 3 km) long and 100 feet (approx. 30 m) wide, characteristics that require absolute precision during approach and landing.

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Scientific and Not Commercial Mission

Despite the magnitude of the achievement, the flight did not have a tourist or commercial nature. The operation was planned to transport 45 researchers and 12 tons of scientific equipment to the Troll research station, located in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.

The majority of the passengers were part of the Norwegian Polar Institute. Flight N0787 fulfilled the logistical role of supporting scientific activities in the region, underscoring the importance of air transport for research in extreme environments.

Cargo Capacity as a Deciding Factor

The choice of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was not random. One of the main factors was the aircraft’s cargo capacity, which can accommodate over 5,000 cubic feet in its compartments. This feature was decisive for facilitating the transport of the 12 tons of equipment necessary for the mission.

The ample internal space allowed for the secure and efficient organization of the cargo, respecting the operational limitations imposed by climatic conditions and the infrastructure available in Antarctica.

Fuel Efficiency and Antarctic Logistics

Another central reason for choosing the model was its fuel efficiency. The aircraft traveled from Cape Town to Antarctica and returned using a single fuel tank, a factor considered essential for operations in remote regions.

According to Paul Erlandsson, Boeing’s field service representative, this efficiency helped address the logistical complexities of transporting, storing, and handling fuel in Antarctica, where there is no traditional infrastructure.

Challenges of Blue Ice Runways

Antarctica does not have conventional runways. Aircraft need to operate on runways known as blue ice, which are formed naturally and maintained by specific climatic conditions.

The video of the landing shows a precise approach on one of the world’s most challenging runways.

The operation sets a precedent for evaluating the potential for new landings of large aircraft on Antarctic ice, expanding logistical options for future scientific missions, even in an environment considered extremely hostile.

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Ribamar Mariano

#227041

19/01/2026 10:16

Cadê o filme do pouso? A reportagem ficou capalenga…

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Pilot Becomes First Person to Land Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica – Surreal Historic Images

The Unique Landing of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica, Carried Out in November 2023 by a Pilot of Norse Atlantic Airways, Marked an Unprecedented Logistical Operation by Transporting 45 Researchers and 12 Tons of Scientific Equipment to a 9,840-Foot Ice Runway at Troll Air Base

Historical Landing on an Ice and Snow Runway

Scientific and Not Commercial Mission

Cargo Capacity as a Deciding Factor

Fuel Efficiency and Antarctic Logistics

Challenges of Blue Ice Runways

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Pilot Becomes First Person to Land Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica – Surreal Historic Images

The Unique Landing of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica, Carried Out in November 2023 by a Pilot of Norse Atlantic Airways, Marked an Unprecedented Logistical Operation by Transporting 45 Researchers and 12 Tons of Scientific Equipment to a 9,840-Foot Ice Runway at Troll Air Base

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Scientific and Not Commercial Mission

Cargo Capacity as a Deciding Factor

Fuel Efficiency and Antarctic Logistics

Challenges of Blue Ice Runways

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He transformed an abandoned plastic water tank into an underground house in the “hobbit hole” style, using only repurposed pallet wood, without heavy machinery or expensive labor.

Toyota launches “family hybrid van” with 7 or 8 seats, 1.8 hybrid engine, fuel consumption of up to 23.8 km/l, and a price equivalent to about R$ 104,000 without taxes, below the Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid sold in Brazil: meet the Noah Hybrid 2026 in Japan.

Chinese woman planted trees for decades while sand buried part of her house, received $5,000 from an American in 1999, and helped transform the desert into a forest of 8 million trees in China.

Described by astronauts as one of the most unlikely natural phenomena on Earth, the Okavango Delta spreads over up to 15,000 square kilometers in the middle of the desert and transforms Botswana into a living labyrinth of channels, islands, and flooded areas.

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