Polar One
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Smogsville
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was wondering if anybody knew which aircraft first operated the Transpolar route to New York for CX??
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The flight dubbed "Polar One" was operated as CPA6889.
It's scheduled departure from JFK was July 5, 1998 at 0245 local and arrival at HKG (CLK) on July 6, at 0630 local. Scheduled flight time 15:45 and operated by B-HUJ. The aircraft was towed to 31L/13R to depart with full tanks.
Just to give you a idea of how much benefit these Polar routes provide, with average 2007 winter winds (stronger headwinds than the summer), United on average carried 316 pax and 5000lbs cargo on HKG-ORD (14:32) flying time.
Compared to the same flight not using Polar 3, The ZFW is far more limited, with only 246 pax and no cargo. (15:41) flying time.
Some history
In 1996 United began ORD-HKG (before Polar routes existed). Summer only operation with every departure having to be towed to the runway!
In 1997 Polar 1/2/3/4 were created and Cathay's CPA6889 was the first to fly right over the NPOLE.
United was the first to commence scheduled Polar "demo" flights and flew the first one via Polar 3 in 1998 ORD-HKG.
In 1999 there were a total of 12 demo Polar flights and in 2000 with scheduled flights now approved, that number jumped to 253 polar flights.
In July 2000, United launched JFK-HKG on the 744, however dropped the route after only 5 months due to weak demand. One may wonder how there could be weak demand on a market that supports some 7-8 daily flights today (including EWR). Truth is that UA's presence at JFK was weak and shrinking rapidly.
United operated its 10000th Polar flight on July 29th 2009.
It's scheduled departure from JFK was July 5, 1998 at 0245 local and arrival at HKG (CLK) on July 6, at 0630 local. Scheduled flight time 15:45 and operated by B-HUJ. The aircraft was towed to 31L/13R to depart with full tanks.
Just to give you a idea of how much benefit these Polar routes provide, with average 2007 winter winds (stronger headwinds than the summer), United on average carried 316 pax and 5000lbs cargo on HKG-ORD (14:32) flying time.
Compared to the same flight not using Polar 3, The ZFW is far more limited, with only 246 pax and no cargo. (15:41) flying time.
Some history
In 1996 United began ORD-HKG (before Polar routes existed). Summer only operation with every departure having to be towed to the runway!
In 1997 Polar 1/2/3/4 were created and Cathay's CPA6889 was the first to fly right over the NPOLE.
United was the first to commence scheduled Polar "demo" flights and flew the first one via Polar 3 in 1998 ORD-HKG.
In 1999 there were a total of 12 demo Polar flights and in 2000 with scheduled flights now approved, that number jumped to 253 polar flights.
In July 2000, United launched JFK-HKG on the 744, however dropped the route after only 5 months due to weak demand. One may wonder how there could be weak demand on a market that supports some 7-8 daily flights today (including EWR). Truth is that UA's presence at JFK was weak and shrinking rapidly.
United operated its 10000th Polar flight on July 29th 2009.
Last edited by B-HKD; 21st Jun 2012 at 19:07.
