In just about any location a person can travel. With that thought in mind, an Australian businessman and brainstormer organized the world's first charter flight over the Antarctic on Feb 13, 1877. As he was looking at a map one morning, this active 33 year old electronic executive thought to himself why a regular plane cannot accomplish a trip to Antarctica that returns to Sydney on the same day.
A she researched about such a trip he found out that Australia was one of the few developed countries able to accomplish such a feat and so he contacted its premier flag carrier in November of 1976 arranging for a 707 charter. The airline though that the request that was being made was a joke. The airline had never had a charter request for Antarctica before and did not think the idea was financially sound. Because of his seriousness not to mention determination the charter manager changed his mind.
When it came to offering tickets to passengers much difficulty was experienced at first. For the charter there were only six passengers who confirmed their participation. Words traveled around and a story about the flight was published in a Sydney newspaper. When the article appeared, his switchboard was jammed with people wanting to make reservations. A plane as big as a 707 was filled up with passengers in four hours. The day ended with them generating as much as three 707s worth of passengers.
Such a response was rather perplexing and the airline needed to be contacted for two 747s. What he said was that the situation was hardly believable. In the end, they got a jumbo for the trip instead.
From the airline spokesman in Sydney came the advice of viewing the Antarctic during the best possible time and this is when there is clear weather during the summer in the Southern hemisphere running from November to February. Here there are no guarantees when it comes to viewing conditions and visibility is always in consideration of a risk basis. The standard safety precautions will be enough for a trip like this. For the superintendent of Australia's major airline, the flight will go about a regular, routine pattern.
He may be a 22 year veteran of his country's flag carrier and even got to fly the first flight to South America but this flight is still quite dissimilar. He said he didn't know what to expect to see. Pure and clean and massive are the words to describe it. He was amazed with how white the white was and how there are several shades of blue from pale to indigo.
You could say that it was to die for. He wanted to see as far as his could see and felt much happiness in the sights.
If you are assigned to a window seat then you could expect to be swapping seats periodically. Measuring viewing intervals was accomplished with the help of a computer system. Both sides of the plane had maximum viewing abilities because of the particular flying pattern that they used. Much consideration was given for the varieties of the scenery of Antarctica given the most extreme of weather conditions and they saw to it that they are able to provide the best view of everything from the glaciers and coastline to the mountains and ice plateaus.
On the average a flight over the area would last 12 1/2 hours long. Should they find themselves not flying over Antarctica, what the guests are treated too are lectures, games, and movies. The airline offers its customary cabin service and full course meals.
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