Flying in Antarctica

The South Pole has always had a formidable reputation. Cold, icy, mountainous, and generally not very welcoming for humans. But when you’re flying high on a plane, you usually don’t notice what’s going on at ground level. Yet aircraft rarely, if ever, overfly the South Pole, and even flights over the Antarctic landmass are unusual. Why is this? Historically, flying close to or over the South Pole was ruled out by Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards rules. ETOPS governs how far away twin-engine jets can fly from an airport they can land at. Overland with many airports, this is no problem. However, things become tricky over the Antarctic. The Twin Otter is a high-wing, twin-engine, turboprop aircraft. They are used all over the world and are known for their rugged construction, reliability, and short take-off and landing performance. In other parts of the world, Twin Otters have often been termed a ‘bush’ aircraft as they are designed for remote environments. The Twin Otters are extremely versatile and can be modified to allow airborne surveying and other scientific equipment to be fitted. The aircraft can be operated single pilot and with a long-range fuel tank. Double cargo doors provide good access for installing instrument racks. The version operated by BAS is the wheel/ski-equipped aircraft that lands on snow, ice, or any other type of hard runways in remote areas.