Antarctic flight track?

[Eastwest Loco]

Hi and Happy New Year sportsfans.

Mrs Loco, the spaniel and I were enjoying a drink in the balmy wx outside tonight, before the invasion of neighbours when I heard a nice serious rumble.

Looked up and there was an A388 tracking over the top South of the DPO beacon and laying 4 lovely con trails. heading looked to be about 130.

Obviously the Antarctic flight - the lucky buggers!

Can anyone please confirm the route planned for this flight? It was lovely to see the girl, but as she departed SYD, picked up in MEL and then for the Southern Ocean I can only assume route was MEL KNS HBA and then out into the wilds.

Totally made the end to the year for me. The Trents have their own very distinctive sound even at altitude.

Best all and thanks for putting up with me.

EWL

[Dog One]

Happy New Year EWL!

For the A388 planned route, look at this site

http://www.cosmic.com.au/capture.jpg


cheers

[Eastwest Loco]

Excellent Dog One

That fits exactly, including being a little left of track.

Best regards

EWL

[RodH]

A Qantas Airbus A380 “superjumbo” - designated as flight QF 2903 - departs Melbourne, bound for Antarctica. As well as being the only sightseeing flight over Antarctica this New Year’s Eve, the aircraft will also be the first commercial flight by an A380 over the south polar region. And not only will the 450 passengers and crew on board be among the first in the world to experience the first sunlight of the new year and the new decade - as occupants of the first commercial A380 over Antarctica, they will also become aviation pioneers.

The first A380 to Antarctica will be operated by Qantas on behalf of specialist Melbourne-based tour operator Croydon Travel - a partnership which has operated 84 previous flights to Antarctica, all of them with Boeing 747 jumbo jets. Tonight’s flight is scheduled to depart Melbourne International Airport at 6.10, Australian Eastern Summer Time, and subject to weather conditions during the evening will then fly over Tasmania and direct to Antarctica, the world’s coldest, driest and windiest continent - a journey of approximately four hours.

The aircraft will be under the command of senior Qantas pilot Captain John Dennis, who has flown 38 previous journeys to Antarctica. With him on the flight deck will be Captain Bruce Simpson, also a senior Qantas pilot, while in the cabin, the “Midnight Sun” flight activities will be coordinated by the head of Croydon Travel, Mr Phil Asker, who has made 45 previous flights to the ice.

Those activities start with Antarctic videos and briefings by Antarctica experts, a roving jazz band adding to the atmosphere throughout the night, a countdown to midnight (Australian Eastern Summer Time) and - of course - a rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

Antarctic viewing is best at this time of the year, when the region experiences almost continuous daylight, and anticipation turns to excitement and elation as the giant airliner approaches Antarctica. The most frequently-selected flightseeing route takes sightseers over sea ice and the South Magnetic Pole about 3 ½ hours south of Melbourne, en route to the French research base of Dumont d’Urville.

There, the aircraft will turn and fly above the jagged coast of Antarctica, before heading inland and flying figure-eight patterns over glaciers and frozen terrain which stretches as far as the eye can see.

The final phase of sightseeing on a typical Antarctica flight takes the aircraft over the spectacular Trans Antarctic Range. Then, as the festivities continue into the night and beyond into the new year, the A380 will depart the world’s last great wilderness area and turn back towards Melbourne, arriving at approximately 5.20am on New Year’s Day.

To maximise viewing opportunities for those on board, 19 flight tracks have been approved, enabling the operating pilots to pick the best available viewing
http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/icons/mpangel.gif

[Going Boeing]

I did a flight to JNB recently where the route took us around the edge of Antarctica in the vicinity of the Australian bases. We were lucky to have large areas of clear sky (normally overcast) and had spectacular views of the coast as well as Pack Ice and Icebergs of all sizes. Spoke briefly to some pilots flying a C212 down there - were counting Minke whales at the time. We got the impression that the flying tasks varied daily and sounded like a great job in a really spectacular part of the world.

I can understand why Croydon Travel are able to successfully market these Antarctic Charters as it is a once in a lifetime experience for most people.

Happy New Year PPRuNers.

[Ngineer]

I did a flight to JNB recently where the route took us around the edge of Antarctica

A beauty that most Australians will never get to see until it finally reaches our shores.

Happy New year to all ppruners.

[PLovett]

EWL

What time did you see the A380 over DPO? Obviously pre-dark but in HBA just after dark we had quite a spectacular T-storm with lots a lightning and thunder and some rain. Might have impinged on their flight at the time?

Happy New Year to all PPRuNers too.:ok:

[CharlieLimaX-Ray]

Nice lifestyle PLovett hanging out with the yachties and chickie babes on the waterfront!

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

What level does the A380 and other QANTAS flights go down to over Antartica? Just curious because I and my family were almost on a certain other Antarctic flight 30 years ago..

[Track5milefinal]

(http://www.cosmic.com.au/capture.jpg)http://www.cosmic.com.au/capture.jpg
(http://www.cosmic.com.au/capture.jpg)

What tracking program is that?

[Brutus]

Gday Loco,

I was lucky enough to crew one of those NYE Antarctic charters a few years ago. The sightseeing part of the plan is kept deliberately flexible. On the way down the crew establish contact with the various bases to determine which part of the continent will provide the best viewing. The preflight sat pics provide a good starting point but the weather down there can change so quickly it is necessary to get live updates.

As to the altitude, we didn't get below 18000', but it depends on the area of ops.

[VBPCGUY]

What do QF charge to go on the flight, the wife was asking me yesterday as she is keen to go???

[Qantas 787]

VBPC Guy:

Antarctica Flights: Welcome (http://www.antarcticaflights.com.au/)

All the info is there. 2 more flights (one 380, one 747) in the coming weeks. The 747 one might be a little better because the windows are better for taking photos but the A380 has the advantage of the tail camera. Looks like they will try to do the same thing next New Years Eve if the aircraft is available (it wouldn't surprise me to see two flights, one from SYD and one from MEL).

It got a lot of press coverage last night although most people seemed to be celebrating that looking at the view :p

[Going Boeing]

VBPC guy, the aircraft and crew is chartered to Croydon Travel and they control the marketing.

As mentioned the A380 has a tail camera but the B747 isn't too bad as they mount a camera on the glareshield (F/O's side) and feed it through the IFE. Pax are moved around throughout the flight to give everyone equal opportunities at viewing through the windows.

[601]

new year and the new decade

New decade - another one who cannot count.

[chainsaw]

New decade - another one who cannot count.

Jeez 601, do you have any idea what you've probably just started? :}

[Capt Fathom]

Hehehe .... there was no year 0.

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-scared003.gif

[relax737]

Do FO's ever get a look in or do the 'senior Capts' hog these trips?

[Eastwest Loco]

PLovett

Mrs Loco and I were just finishing up the setup for a neighbourhood barbie, so I think it was around 1930ish.

That is the 2nd time I have seen an A380 over DPO, the first being a training flight in late 2008.

They are as ugly as buggery on the ground, but look magnificent in flight.

My sons and their mates were at the Falls Festival at Marion Bay and got the thunder storm but I feel the would have been through and out into the Southern Ocean by then.

Best all

EWL

[Eastwest Loco]

Actually, here is the FLIFO for the service

QF RESPONSE
‡DOQF2903/31DEC

* OPERATIONAL FLIGHT INFO * QF2903 -2 TH 31DEC
CITY INFO HOUR (LOCAL)

SYD LEFT THE GATE 1421
TOOK OFF 1438
ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL 1544 MEL
MEL LEFT THE GATE 1829
TOOK OFF 1844
AIRCRAFT LANDED 0644
ARRIVED 0654
ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL 0650 MEL

* 1A PLANNED FLIGHT INFO * QF2903 -2 TH 31DEC
APT ARR DY DEP DY CLASS/MEAL EQP GRND EFT TTL
SYD 1425 TH (CLASS NOT AVAIL-) 388 1:30

Best all

EWL

[compressor stall]

It's a fantastic place and well worth a look. Words to fail to describe it.

Going Boeing - we did make it to the bar before you got to JNB :) :ok:

[Howard Hughes]

What do QF charge to go on the flight, the wife was asking me yesterday as she is keen to go???
Prices from around $1000 for an economy aisle seat, to $6999 for a first class seat. It is a charter through Croydon Travel (http://croydontravel.com.au), not a QF flight. There is a second flight at the end of January!:ok:

[Going Boeing]

Stallie, it's great to see that there are PPRuNers on every continent - even Antartica. Enjoyed talking to you and will call again next time I fly that service.
Cheers GB