In a historic operation, the Airbus A340-600 operated by European Cargo has become the largest aircraft ever to land in Antarctica, delivering supplies to research stations. Antarctica — On November 5, the massive Airbus A340-600 belonging to British airline European Cargo made its first landing on Antarctic ice at the Wolf’s Fang ice runway, setting a new record as the largest aircraft ever to touch down on the continent. Registered as G-ECLN, the four-engine jet carried essential cargo and equipment to resupply scientific research stations. The landing, performed on a highly compacted blue-ice runway, required meticulous planning and an experienced crew due to the extreme weather conditions and lack of conventional airport infrastructure. European Cargo was established during the pandemic to meet the urgent demand for medical freight transport. Even after the health crisis ended, the company continued operations and now manages a fleet of six Airbus A340-600 aircraft converted exclusively for cargo use. The aircraft used in the Antarctic mission had previously served for about 14 years with Virgin Atlantic before being transformed into a heavy cargo freighter. Until now, the title of the largest aircraft to land in Antarctica belonged to the Airbus A340-300 operated by Portuguese airline Hi Fly, which also conducted similar logistical flights to the Wolf’s Fang airfield. European Cargo’s latest mission represents not only a technical achievement but also a significant logistical milestone in supporting scientific research across the planet’s most remote and challenging continent. Source and images: European Cargo
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