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Travel to the North Pole by airship with OceanSky
Landing at the geographic North Pole: Mission Possible
On May 12, 1926, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen flew over the North Pole for the first time aboard the Norge airship, which landed the next day in Alaska. The airship was piloted by the Italian Umberto Nobile. The latter wanted to repeat the experience after two years aboard the airship Italia, in an expedition that was not successful.
Many planes and ships left to the rescue of the Italian expedition, including a seaplane in which Amundsen was traveling. Nobile was found alive, but Amundsen's seaplane disappeared in the Barents Sea on June 18, 1928, without a trace of the well-known explorer.
On July 24, 1931, Graf Zeppelin's airship undertook an 11,000-kilometer-long flight in one week, which flew over the Arctic Circle intending to make cartographic observations but failed to land.
OceanSky passengers will be the first in history to land at the geographic North Pole.
Nearly a century later, the epic adventure of flying and landing at the geographic North Pole with an airship can be a reality. Imagine departing from Svalbard aboard a state-of-the-art airship, spending the night on board while flying smoothly and silently, and waking up the next day to have breakfast with splendid views of one of the most remote spots on the planet. And all this, aboard a sustainable means of flying, with a minimal carbon footprint.
Gonzalo Gimeno, OceanSky ambassador, next to a model of the Airlander10 airship.
The airship will make a journey between Svalbard and the North Pole for approximately 36 hours. Photo: OceanSky.
A 21st-century airship
Gone are the rigid airships of a century ago that used hydrogen as fuel. OceanSky will use the Airlander 10, a lightweight, nonflammable helium-filled airship, on its expedition to the North Pole. The aircraft does not need airports as it can land anywhere, even in water, at a gentle speed of 30km/h. It is the world's largest airship, measuring nearly 100 meters long, and is powered by four propellers with full autonomy for days.
A blimp of these characteristics is subject to the same safety regulations as any passenger aircraft. The most critical phase of any flight is takeoff and landing. The Airlander will land at 40km/h instead of the usual 230km/h for an airplane.
In addition, it will be able to fly in a wide range of weather conditions. Like an airplane, it will also be able to withstand extreme sub-zero temperatures and icy conditions. In the unlikely event of an all-engine failure, helium would sustain the aircraft in the air and it could be landed in a controlled descent. In addition, it can also splash down on water.
Photo: Courtesy of Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd.
An epic journey to ground zero of climate change
This fascinating and iconic journey also aims to raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of this unique terrestrial ecosystem that is the Arctic. The extent of Arctic sea ice reaches record lows year after year. The ice surface has been reduced by 40% of what it was in 1979. The ice is melting, which affects not only its extent but also its quality. As it melts, seawater appears, which, being dark, attracts more of the Sun's rays, which in turn continue to melt larger areas of ice.
A study published in the journal Science shows that the loss of Arctic sea ice is directly related to higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Rising temperatures, more frequent droughts and floods, and extreme weather events are some of the possible consequences of losing the moderating effect the Arctic exerts on global temperatures.
Airships may become an alternative to commercial tourist aviation, creating a new way to travel that is sustainable and not dependent on airports.
You will take off from Svalbard and savor an exclusive Arctic-inspired menu prepared on board by a prestigious chef. You'll spend the night in flight, staying in comfortable, fully-equipped cabins, and land in the morning at the North Pole. After landing, you'll enjoy an Arctic expedition and return to Svalbard again, spending the night aboard the airship.
The passenger gondola has been designed like a luxury hotel in the sky, with large panoramic windows and every comfort and convenience. The cabin is not pressurized, providing a quiet environment on board without turbulence, and with a slow cruising speed and low altitude, which is ideal for 100% enjoyment of the journey and the scenery.
This fascinating and iconic journey aims to raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of this unique terrestrial ecosystem: the Arctic
- The airship has a payload capacity of up to 10,000 kilograms and a flight autonomy of 3 days. Photo: Max Pinucci MBVision —
- You will fly up to 2,000 meters altitude and therefore there is no need for a pressurized cabin, which allows for incredible panoramic windows and glass floors —
- The design of the 250m2 gondola allows space and luxury far superior to that of any commercial aircraft —
- The cabin capacity is 16 passengers, distributed in 8 double cabins, and 7 crew members. Photos: HAV-Design Q
The North Pole is one of the most remote points of the planet that has always generated a great attraction for explorers and travelers of all times. Photo: Tom Hegen.
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