EXTREME FLIGHT - Landing on Antarctica Ice Runway

I boarded a Hi Fly A340 chartered for White Desert Antarctica (Tour Operator) to fly to the seventh continent; Antarctica. The flight time from Cape Town to Wolf’s Fang Runway in Antarctica is 5 hours and 15 minutes. Flying from 33 degrees South to 71 degrees South in latitude. Commander Carlos Mirpuri explained the Antarctic flight operating conditions and requirements.

During the flight, the founder of White Desert Antarctica Patrick explained what to expect in Antarctica. As we flew closer to Antarctica, passengers changed to winter clothing and got ready for the exploration. The Antarctic season is from mid-November to early February every year.

The weather condition was good with clear visibility for landing at Wolf’s Fang runway. The runway friction index was also sufficient to allow the airplane to stop during braking. Our A340 landed at Wolf’s Fang runway (71º 32’ 00” S 8º 50’ 00” E) around 1930 UTC time. I was lucky to observe the Antarctic landing from the jumpseat.

The runway length is 2500 m (8200') long and 60 m (196') wide. Wolf’s Fang Runway is operated by White Desert Antarctica and it’s the only blue ice runway. It takes 22 hours to groom and prepare the runway for every jet landing.

After landing, we climbed a nearby Nunatak (small mountain) and were just amazed at the pristine landscape; the white desert! The sun never set during the Antarctic summer. I also visited the newly opened Echo Camp for refreshments before the flight back. Certainly one of "The Greatest Day" in my aviation and travel memory!

[jereking]

Sam. you're amazing. Thank you for taking us to the extreme south. It is such a wonderful experience; one feels like they are right there travelling with you.

[ryori]

Hi Sam, here is my contribution for thermal socks. Wow, antartica! You have come such a long-way from that first flight on YouTube, the SA from Sydney to Singapore. Keep it up...

[GreenerGrass]

Wow! What a great video highlighting an incredible experience. Thanks, Sam!

[danielrebel]

What a fantastic experience!
And hats off to those guys who bid and paid money for children’s charity for the ride !

[Bsaji]

Thank you Sam for flying and showing us this amazing A340-300 .!!.
I used to fly on this aircraft frequently as a cabin crew in 2004 when I was working with Emirates .. Good to see this beautiful bird after so long..

[tonynieuwoudt]

Having been an aircraft maintenance engineer for 32 years, many of them spent working and flying on the A340, including a maintenance C-check on a HiFly A340, this post was exceptional. Thank you. Currently unemployed in South Africa BTW.

[Cynsham]

Sam you make some of the best aviation content on youtube, thank you for being you and thank you for your unending politeness and passion towards all things aviation. Wish more people could be as pleasant and grateful as you are in every video.

[TheSupraShack]

It is absolutely amazing to see the scenery change from South Africa To Antarctica!! Thanks for taking us on this amazing trip it fells like I was travelling with you! Keep up the good work!

[Pilot-]

I wonder how the explorers from the 20th century who barely survived antarctica would react if they knew that in the 21st century, airlines would start adding routes to antarctica, even for me this is unreal

[trinayan]

What a breathtaking icy landscape. I was awestruck with the beauty of the Antarctica.

[ScenesThroughTravels]

This looks stunning Sam, Thank you for capturing beautiful shots of this awesome scenery

[bradennetzly]

I never knew about Antarctica tourism until I studied abroad in Argentina as a university student when I met two people in my language school who visited Antarctica. A few weeks later I visited Ushuaia and got to see a ship coming from Antarctica, and that was the day I was determined to visit the seventh continent. I’m jealous of your travel, but I am so happy to see this content from you Sam, showing the aviation aspect of Antarctica. Cheers to you!

[NovaDeb]

This is one of your best videos ever! Thanks for taking us on your adventure to Antarctica.

[stefeniedavidmusic]

Pretty amazing when you think of the ordeal and hardships Scott, Shackleton and all the early Antarctic explorers endured and often didn't live to tell about it. What a trip this would be. Thanks for sharing because I doubt if I could ever afford this one.

[leokimvideo]

The Air New Zealand DC10 crash into Mount Erebus is still fresh in my memory and a reminder how dangerous flying in a all white environment is. Many younger folk won't know about that major jet crash that killed all onboard in 1979. The weird huts you see down there is a peek into the future of Sydney housing. Interesting to see the pilot struggling with the low midnight sun. It's all amazing but the risks down there are many.

[grahambassett]

WOW - Unbelievable. Your best video to date, my viewpoint only. I’m really enjoying your ‘adventure trip’ video’s. I’ll never get to Antartica, but you gave me the next best experience, thank you. I just couldn’t believe the clarity of landscape, & light. The sunset shots panning over ‘Wolf’s Fang’ was just absolutely magical & memorable. Thank you Sam. (P.S. Hey Sam you were certainly ‘hugging & puffing’ up that ‘lookout mountain’ climb. Lots of Laughter from me, but in a good way). Keep up the great work.

[veronicalara]

Thank you for sharing. In this you are allowing those like myself who find ourselves financially unable to afford a life experience so breathtaking but allow us to visually accompany you and vicariously live your experience from home. Thank you and I wish you many blessings and safe travels. May the world and Mother Nature provide for perfect conditions, as well as guide, protect, accept and promote your trips, arrivals, presence, and departures in the name of our grand creator! I could only dream of sharing an experience in person. It would be life changing.

[kenny]

the ability for these airplanes to fly and take you anywhere around the world is amazing. one day u are in antartica where 1am seems like 7pm and the next day u are landing in africa is truly amazing. Awesome video Sam

[CountingCountries]

This is a bucket list experience! Thank you for taking us along

[dobermanism]

When I served in the United States 🧜‍♀️Navy, a Navy pilot friend of mine flew C1 30s and landed on skis in Antarctic 🥶.❄️ I would fly in the old DC-10’s out of the tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They had the greatest pilots. Great video 🍻.