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Antarctica.
IV STOP-OVER AIRPORT
Antarctica. Chapter IV

STOP-OVER AIRPORT

S85°05 W80°47
Coordinates
1 275 meters
Height above sea level
AIRPORT 3-THIELS
AIRPORT 3-THIELS
This small ‘airport’ is located 550 km from the South Pole and 650 km from the Union Glacier and is owned by ALE. Planes make short stops here to refuel, rest and continue on to Union or head back. Fuel is the most expensive resource on the continent due to the cost of its transportation, and refueling can help reduce costs slightly. At the South Pole, it will cost several times more.There is no temporary camp here. Only a small airstrip, fuel drums and toilets.

Fuel to this point, unlike the FD83, is delivered by crawler vehicles, which drag the barrels here and then drive back.
This small ‘airport’ is located 550 km from the South Pole and 650 km from the Union Glacier and is owned by ALE. Planes make short stops here to refuel, rest and continue on to Union or head back. Fuel is the most expensive resource on the continent due to the cost of its transportation, and refueling can help reduce costs slightly. At the South Pole, it will cost several times more.There is no temporary camp here. Only a small airstrip, fuel drums and toilets.

Fuel to this point, unlike the FD83, is delivered by crawler vehicles, which drag the barrels here and then drive back.
View of the ALE airfield and fuel depot.
View of the ALE airfield and fuel depot.
View of the ALE airfield and fuel depot.
View of the ALE airfield and fuel depot.
SMALL PLANES THAT OPERATE ALL DOMESTIC FLIGHTS CANNOT FLY THE ENTIRE ROUTE THERE AND BACK WITHOUT REFUELING, BUT PASSENGERS ALSO NEED PIT STOPS TO STRETCH THEIR LEGS, AND TO ADAPT SLIGHTLY ON THE WAY TO A RATHER HIGH POINT OF THE SOUTH POLE. THE DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE BETWEEN THE COAST AND THE POLE IS ALMOST 3000 METERS.
SMALL PLANES THAT OPERATE ALL DOMESTIC FLIGHTS CANNOT FLY THE ENTIRE ROUTE THERE AND BACK WITHOUT REFUELING, BUT PASSENGERS ALSO NEED PIT STOPS TO STRETCH THEIR LEGS, AND TO ADAPT SLIGHTLY ON THE WAY TO A RATHER HIGH POINT OF THE SOUTH POLE. THE DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE BETWEEN THE COAST AND THE POLE IS ALMOST 3000 METERS.
AVIATION IN ANTARCTICA
AVIATION IN ANTARCTICA
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW RUNWAYS IN ANTARCTICA IN TOTAL, AND THEY ARE MADE FOR THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIRCRAFT WHICH FLY HERE.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW RUNWAYS IN ANTARCTICA IN TOTAL, AND THEY ARE MADE FOR THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIRCRAFT WHICH FLY HERE.
The main aircraft designed to transport goods and people between continents is the IL-76, “Ilyushin”, the cabin of which has been completely redesigned to suit the Antarctic. The IL-76 can only land on ice, so its runways are located on the Union Glacier (owned by ALE), near Novolazarevskaya station (owned by the ALCI). Theoretically, it can land on the White Desert company’s runway, but this is reserved mostly for private jets, bringing tourists to their elite tourist camp.
The main aircraft designed to transport goods and people between continents is the IL-76, “Ilyushin”, the cabin of which has been completely redesigned to suit the Antarctic. The IL-76 can only land on ice, so its runways are located on the Union Glacier (owned by ALE), near Novolazarevskaya station (owned by the ALCI). Theoretically, it can land on the White Desert company’s runway, but this is reserved mostly for private jets, bringing tourists to their elite tourist camp.
Вид запасного аэродрома и топливного депо компании ALE.
Вид запасного аэродрома и топливного депо компании ALE.
The capacity of this kind of converted aircraft IL-76 is 60 passengers or 2 cargo containers with a total weight of up to 10 tons.

The Boeing 757 is another long-haul aircraft. Today, they fly mainly from Cape Town to the airstrip near Novolazarevskaya, but from Chile there are also flights to the Union Glacier. The appearance of these aircraft in the skies over Antarctica was a real milestone in the process of ‘colonizing’ the continent, opening up new roads for air traffic and significantly expanding the options available for transporting people.
The capacity of this kind of converted aircraft IL-76 is 60 passengers or 2 cargo containers with a total weight of up to 10 tons.

The Boeing 757 is another long-haul aircraft. Today, they fly mainly from Cape Town to the airstrip near Novolazarevskaya, but from Chile there are also flights to the Union Glacier. The appearance of these aircraft in the skies over Antarctica was a real milestone in the process of ‘colonizing’ the continent, opening up new roads for air traffic and significantly expanding the options available for transporting people.
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
The main aircraft that can be seen in the skies over Antarctica.
The main aircraft that can be seen in the skies over Antarctica.
The main aircraft that can be seen in the skies over Antarctica.
The main aircraft that can be seen in the skies over Antarctica.
Small planes are used for flights within the continent. They transport people (tourists and workers), and also serve as operational rescue vehicles in an emergency. ALE hires planes for the season, often chartering them with crews of pilots. And White Desert operates a small fleet of private jets, servicing areas from East Antarctica to the South Pole, as well as Antarctica-Cape Town flights. They also have several planes, and even a helicopter, at their disposal.
Small planes are used for flights within the continent. They transport people (tourists and workers), and also serve as operational rescue vehicles in an emergency. ALE hires planes for the season, often chartering them with crews of pilots. And White Desert operates a small fleet of private jets, servicing areas from East Antarctica to the South Pole, as well as Antarctica-Cape Town flights. They also have several planes, and even a helicopter, at their disposal.

FALCON 7X

The first Falcon landed in Antarctica recently—back in 2017. A small plane brings private groups of 10−12 people to the continent.

GULFSTREAM G550 AND G650

One of the most spacious business jets, which can cover quite respectable distances—for example, flying without refueling from Cape Town to the Wolf's Fang and back. It is also fast, with such a flight taking only 5 hours. In total, there are about 20 flights per season.

HAVILLAND DHC-6 TWIN OTTERS

This aircraft is equipped with skis instead of a landing gear and is very popular with government research programs requiring passenger and cargo transportation. All over the world, it is used for flights to hard-to-reach places like the tundra or snowy mountains. The runway length it needs is much shorter than that of other aircraft, making it indispensable in these conditions.

BASLER BT-67

The workhorse of Antarctic aviation. Able to land on snow and ice, the plane is actively used for domestic flights, in particular, to the South Pole and to the habitats of emperor penguins. This is a Douglas DC-3 modified for Antarctic conditions: the engine was replaced, the fuselage expanded, and ice cleansing agents added.

LC-130 HERCULES

The ski-equipped modification of this military transport aircraft is mainly used by the American scientific expedition, but it is much less common than other models.

BELL 412

Helicopters are almost never used in Antarctica, but White Desert still has one at its disposal. This is the Bell 412, with a capacity of up to 14 passengers and a payload of up to 1814 kg.

FALCON 7X

The first Falcon landed in Antarctica recently—back in 2017. A small plane brings private groups of 10−12 people to the continent.

GULFSTREAM G550 AND G650

One of the most spacious business jets, which can cover quite respectable distances—for example, flying without refueling from Cape Town to the Wolf's Fang and back. It is also fast, with such a flight taking only 5 hours. In total, there are about 20 flights per season.

HAVILLAND DHC-6 TWIN OTTERS

This aircraft is equipped with skis instead of a landing gear and is very popular with government research programs requiring passenger and cargo transportation. All over the world, it is used for flights to hard-to-reach places like the tundra or snowy mountains. The runway length it needs is much shorter than that of other aircraft, making it indispensable in these conditions.

BASLER BT-67

The workhorse of Antarctic aviation. Able to land on snow and ice, the plane is actively used for domestic flights, in particular, to the South Pole and to the habitats of emperor penguins. This is a Douglas DC-3 modified for Antarctic conditions: the engine was replaced, the fuselage expanded, and ice cleansing agents added.

LC-130 HERCULES

The ski-equipped modification of this military transport aircraft is mainly used by the American scientific expedition, but it is much less common than other models.

BELL 412

Helicopters are almost never used in Antarctica, but White Desert still has one at its disposal. This is the Bell 412, with a capacity of up to 14 passengers and a payload of up to 1814 kg.

FALCON 7X

The first Falcon landed in Antarctica recently—back in 2017. A small plane brings private groups of 10−12 people to the continent.

GULFSTREAM G550 AND G650

One of the most spacious business jets, which can cover quite respectable distances—for example, flying without refueling from Cape Town to the Wolf's Fang and back. It is also fast, with such a flight taking only 5 hours. In total, there are about 20 flights per season.

HAVILLAND DHC-6 TWIN OTTERS

This aircraft is equipped with skis instead of a landing gear and is very popular with government research programs requiring passenger and cargo transportation. All over the world, it is used for flights to hard-to-reach places like the tundra or snowy mountains. The runway length it needs is much shorter than that of other aircraft, making it indispensable in these conditions.

BASLER BT-67

The workhorse of Antarctic aviation. Able to land on snow and ice, the plane is actively used for domestic flights, in particular, to the South Pole and to the habitats of emperor penguins. This is a Douglas DC-3 modified for Antarctic conditions: the engine was replaced, the fuselage expanded, and ice cleansing agents added.

LC-130 HERCULES

The ski-equipped modification of this military transport aircraft is mainly used by the American scientific expedition, but it is much less common than other models.

BELL 412

Helicopters are almost never used in Antarctica, but White Desert still has one at its disposal. This is the Bell 412, with a capacity of up to 14 passengers and a payload of up to 1814 kg.

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