Why Don’t Planes Not Fly Over Antarctica Anymore?

Why don’t planes fly over Antarctica? This is a question many passengers who have spent time flying over the ice wonderland ask. Although it is believed that flights have been made over the continent in the past, there is no record of any such flights. The only way to even reach Antarctica is by using an aircraft that leaves from the airfield that is based in New Zealand. Even if an airplane did take off from London and fly over the frozen wastes of the South Pole, there is no way they could refuel and make it back to New Zealand before disappearing. It is believed that because of the extreme cold temperatures of the area, planes cannot even make it as far into the Polar Regions as they would if they were flying from a different location.

The air temperatures are also believed to be responsible for the fact that very few airplanes even attempt to make the journey. If it were even possible, then more than likely no passenger would attempt to fly. In order to travel to the Polar Regions, you would have to spend considerable time in the plane and at an altitude which are impossible for any airline to do. Without some sort of support from air traffic control, it is just not feasible.

In order for a plane to even reach the top of the Polar Regions, they would have to be covered in ice. Even if a plane could be made to go up into the air, the cabin would remain very warm which is not what the human body needs. When the temperature drops to freezing, even the muscles in the body begin to stiffen and it becomes extremely difficult to move about. This in turn can lead to hypothermia and the possibility of death from hypothermia. Therefore, even if an airline did fly over the ice-ridden areas of Antarctica, it is not likely they would carry passengers into the Polar Regions.

Another problem is the extreme cold temperatures that are found there. To go from London to Edinburgh, Canada or even Berlin, Germany, would literally take several days. It takes even longer to travel to destinations such as Greenland, The United States or Russia. In short, even the supplies that are carried on these flights are limited and cannot provide people with the type of warmth and comfort that they require while on transit.

Not only is it impossible for air travel to reach the Polar Regions, but the water that is necessary for human life cannot be found there. If there was water, it would need to be pumped out on a regular basis. If there was even a small amount of water present, it would freeze immediately. Then the air travel possibilities would be completely impossible. Not to mention the massive cost that would be entailed if ice and water did not get moving quickly to ensure safety.

While the poles may never see the sun, they still contain liquid on a large scale. As long as the ice keeps on melting, air, fuel and food will need to be delivered to the places where it is needed. The thickness and volume of the ice are what makes this so difficult. At the moment, about 90% of all the fuel that is used in transporting aircraft does not make it down to the location that is being traveled to because of the thickness of the ice.

Because of this problem, air travel to the Polar Regions in the winter does not actually work during this season. Even if the aircraft did make it to the ice, it would not be safe or healthy for the passengers or the aircraft. For instance, thick ice and ocean currents can easily cut into an aircraft’s fuel supply and cause it to become inoperable. Therefore, no airline wants to take a chance on having an aircraft or a cargo go into the Arctic and be damaged by the effects of the bitter cold and freezing temperatures.

If you have ever been to Antarctica, you may feel that it is quite a treacherous place to go and especially if you do not have any experience traveling in these types of conditions. However, with the right training and the right equipment you can safely travel to this continent. Ice, however, is much less predictable than the other conditions that are mentioned above. It is important that everyone is aware of the danger of traveling to and from the Antartic and plan accordingly. A few simple rules would make the trip to Antarctica a lot less dangerous and could allow you to make some unforgettable memories that you will always cherish.