(QF) Antarctic flights: Crew advice?!
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(QF) Antarctic flights: Crew advice?!
These 12-hour (very!) scenic flights are not QF flights, but rather, are operated by a 3rd party ('Antartica Flights') who sub-contract Qantas to operate the event.
I'm doing one ex-MEL on NYE (lucky me!).
I'm curious: given that these flights take no passenger baggage or freight, would a 787 be even close to MTOW, even though somewhat unusual flight deviations (10,000 feet AGL) are undertaken for best viewing?
Dean
I'm doing one ex-MEL on NYE (lucky me!).
I'm curious: given that these flights take no passenger baggage or freight, would a 787 be even close to MTOW, even though somewhat unusual flight deviations (10,000 feet AGL) are undertaken for best viewing?
Dean
You are correct. Ex-MEL the flight would be well below MTOW.
Rough Figures are 100T for max fuel and 254T MTOW.
PER-LHR with full bags and full fuel would see those maximum numbers achieved to match a ~17hr flight time.
Rough Figures are 100T for max fuel and 254T MTOW.
PER-LHR with full bags and full fuel would see those maximum numbers achieved to match a ~17hr flight time.
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Last years New Years from Melbourne took about 90T of fuel and was around 30T below MTOW.
Altitude descending to will depend on which viewing area they go to. Last year due to bad weather over most of Antarctica they were limited to flying around near Casey Station and Bunger Hills. The coastline allows descent to 10 000 feet. The Trans Antarctic Mountains limit you to around 18000+ but since they are quite high the views are spectacular on a good day.
Altitude descending to will depend on which viewing area they go to. Last year due to bad weather over most of Antarctica they were limited to flying around near Casey Station and Bunger Hills. The coastline allows descent to 10 000 feet. The Trans Antarctic Mountains limit you to around 18000+ but since they are quite high the views are spectacular on a good day.
Did the trip back in the 744 days, absolutely brilliant day out, many thanks QF 
, cockpit visit allowed as well and you didn't have to ask, just walk on in, was prior to the new rules, a raffle was held for the privilege of a cockpit seat for the Melbourne landing, it was interesting that with no pax bags or freight they loaded a couple of tons of ballast for CoG purposes.
, cockpit visit allowed as well and you didn't have to ask, just walk on in, was prior to the new rules, a raffle was held for the privilege of a cockpit seat for the Melbourne landing, it was interesting that with no pax bags or freight they loaded a couple of tons of ballast for CoG purposes.
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Thanks to all for info: would 2 (or 2.5) flight crew be needed for this 12 hr round-trip?
I understand a professional photographer with multiple cameras (inside + outside) provides a compilation of in-flight images: I won't be taking any fancy photo gear!
(Is that sound?)
I understand a professional photographer with multiple cameras (inside + outside) provides a compilation of in-flight images: I won't be taking any fancy photo gear!
(Is that sound?)
Yep professional photographers are on board, with go-pros mounted at various locations, including in the flight deck. They put together a DVD compilation of it all, not sure if that’s included in the ticket price though
Last edited by Transition Layer; 24th May 2024 at 13:29. Reason: Typo
Back in the 744 days, economy pax got 2 boarding passes, one for the middle seats and one for the window seats. Approaching the Antarctic coast the crew would advise onboard charter staff of the estimated time they'd be able to zoom around over the ice. Each pax group would then get half their time in a middle seat block and at 'half-time' they'd swap into the window seat on their other boarding pass. I'm not sure if they still do that on the 787. In reality most pax just shared the view with their neighbours as the more scenic bits appeared.
The weather will determine where exactly you'll go; east towards Cape Hallett or west towards Casey Station. Either way there's spectacular scenery.
The NYE flight has a party atmosphere and of course it's a 'midnight sun flight' and the scenery is quite different to the daylight flights, but still amazing.
The weather will determine where exactly you'll go; east towards Cape Hallett or west towards Casey Station. Either way there's spectacular scenery.
The NYE flight has a party atmosphere and of course it's a 'midnight sun flight' and the scenery is quite different to the daylight flights, but still amazing.
Did one in the 747 Classic pre ANZ disaster.
Aircraft fuelled at sunrise until fuel ran out the wingtip tanks - with over fuel CBs pulled.
Pax bussed to aircraft for a LeMans departure on MEL16.
Many Pax had run out of film ( remember that) before we cleared Tasmania. Organisers had anticipated and had big box of extras.
"Heavy" Crew - only people without the starred epaulets were the S/Os.
Flew coastal at 1500 ft just below the cloud layer. No polar bears sighted but plenty of penguins. Uncomfortable to put it mildly with the flight deck full of senior Nav, Radio & engineering staff. No one with any relevant flying experience!
Poor comms and minimal weather reports.
Unfortunate for ANZ but a wake up call was inevitable.
Aircraft fuelled at sunrise until fuel ran out the wingtip tanks - with over fuel CBs pulled.
Pax bussed to aircraft for a LeMans departure on MEL16.
Many Pax had run out of film ( remember that) before we cleared Tasmania. Organisers had anticipated and had big box of extras.
"Heavy" Crew - only people without the starred epaulets were the S/Os.
Flew coastal at 1500 ft just below the cloud layer. No polar bears sighted but plenty of penguins. Uncomfortable to put it mildly with the flight deck full of senior Nav, Radio & engineering staff. No one with any relevant flying experience!
Poor comms and minimal weather reports.
Unfortunate for ANZ but a wake up call was inevitable.
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Polar Bears
I never realised that QF did these Antarctica Scenic flights right back to 747 Classic days..
Do you recall if this was the -238B's with PW or RR engines, and/or did they use the 747-338's and the 747SP's too?
Lastly, did they do they any Scenic flights as far back as 707 days >?
TE/ANZ AFAIK, never ventured back ever again to Antarctica with their Scenic flights....?
TIA!
B747-238 EBL with P&W in Feb 1978 - before the RR powered arrived - late 1978/1979?
Before the 338 - 1983 and SP - 1980
Flight time was 11.21. Plenty of fuel on arrival but had to cover contingencies from furthest point.
I don't believe the 707 did any.
Before the 338 - 1983 and SP - 1980
Flight time was 11.21. Plenty of fuel on arrival but had to cover contingencies from furthest point.
I don't believe the 707 did any.
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Many thanks indeed PW1830
I went down there over the summer 1978/79 on -EBG, a P&W powered B742.
And I have a faint recollection of a 707 operation out of Perth in the late 1970s with JKD at the helm - it was a long time ago! Maybe someone has a better memory?
And I have a faint recollection of a 707 operation out of Perth in the late 1970s with JKD at the helm - it was a long time ago! Maybe someone has a better memory?
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It's better by sailing ship!!
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