EXTREME FLIGHT - Landing on Antarctica Ice Runway

I boarded a Hi Fly A340 chartered for White Desert Antarctica (Tour Operator) to fly to the seventh continent; Antarctica. The flight time from Cape Town to Wolf’s Fang Runway in Antarctica is 5 hours and 15 minutes. Flying from 33 degrees South to 71 degrees South in latitude. Commander Carlos Mirpuri explained the Antarctic flight operating conditions and requirements.
During the flight, the founder of White Desert Antarctica Patrick explained what to expect in Antarctica. As we flew closer to Antarctica, passengers changed to winter clothing and got ready for the exploration. The Antarctic season is from mid-November to early February every year.
The weather condition was good with clear visibility for landing at Wolf’s Fang runway. The runway friction index was also sufficient to allow the airplane to stop during braking. Our A340 landed at Wolf’s Fang runway (71º 32’ 00” S 8º 50’ 00” E) around 1930 UTC time. I was lucky to observe the Antarctic landing from the jumpseat.
The runway length is 2500 m (8200') long and 60 m (196') wide. Wolf’s Fang Runway is operated by White Desert Antarctica and it’s the only blue ice runway. It takes 22 hours to groom and prepare the runway for every jet landing.
After landing, we climbed a nearby Nunatak (small mountain) and were just amazed at the pristine landscape; the white desert! The sun never set during the Antarctic summer. I also visited the newly opened Echo Camp for refreshments before the flight back. Certainly one of "The Greatest Day" in my aviation and travel memory!
For more information on Antarctica tour, visit white-desert.com

[@jereking254]

Sam. you're amazing. Thank you for taking us to the extreme south. It is such a wonderful experience; one feels like they are right there travelling with you.

[@drdinodeesmilesaverdental2579]

@@sdqw6131 p

[@SamChui]

Thank you, really appreciate and love to share aviation experiences with everyone here!

[@GreenerGrass]

Wow! What a great video highlighting an incredible experience. Thanks, Sam!

[@megandarcy937]

You need to go! I am in Ushuaia - 3 more days to go!

[@diego2guzman669]

Hello Jeb

[@wingflex5367]

Hey Jeb, love all your adventures as well :)

[@willemlenteren1485]

Yes jeb

[@avioncamper]

Hey Jeb, that would be a heck of a 40th birthday present for yourself next year and a great video too.

[@B777saji]

Thank you Sam for flying and showing us this amazing A340-300 .!!. I used to fly on this aircraft frequently as a cabin crew in 2004 when I was working with Emirates .. Good to see this beautiful bird after so long..

[@SamChui]

Yes, I flew several times on EK A343, glad she is still around and even made her landing in Antarctica!

[@Maxwell1989]

@@SamChui Aloha Sam I wanted to know if you would help us and promote our beautiful unique Hawaii graphic design apparel on your social media platforms my mom created the design concepts from sea life to mermaids and much more with different styles of apparel to choose from and 10% of yearly proceeds will go to charities that help people and animals we live on the big island of Hawaii with our 9 rescue animals in Ocean View can I get your email to send you the link to our Amazon merch on demand store have a blessed week ahead

[@rickstorr3860]

I flew in the A340 several times as a passenger, overall the smoothest flights I've ever known even in more turbulent weather.

[@ansett-airlines]

@@SamChui I cannot find this runway in FS 2020. No airport ICAO ID???? I found McMurdo and landed my Airbus 320 just fine.

[@TheSupraShack]

It is absolutely amazing to see the scenery change from South Africa To Antarctica!! Thanks for taking us on this amazing trip it fells like I was travelling with you! Keep up the good work!

[@Pilot-2020]

I wonder how the explorers from the 20th century who barely survived antarctica would react if they knew that in the 21st century, airlines would start adding routes to antarctica, even for me this is unreal

[@thealcohologist8624]

He'd call them a bunch of sissys

[@Cynsham]

Sam you make some of the best aviation content on youtube, thank you for being you and thank you for your unending politeness and passion towards all things aviation. Wish more people could be as pleasant and grateful as you are in every video.

[@SamChui]

Thank you, really appreciate it.

[@PicklePlays6]

Amazing conversation! 4:19

[@r_ewusie]

Amazing stuff as always

[@NovaDeb]

This is one of your best videos ever! Thanks for taking us on your adventure to Antarctica.

[@ScenesThroughTravels]

This looks stunning Sam , Thank you for capturing beautiful shots of this awesome scenery

[@Taylod1]

Thank you for taking us along this incredible journey

[@kitaekdou7]

Truly amazing, Sam! have never seen anything like this before. Keep up the good work!

[@roza9813]

This is simply stunning. What a view! Everything looks so pristine and truly uninhabited. Awesome cockpit & flying footage too, thanks!

[@muhmmadzhaid7578]

Hey Sam you are a gem of an aviator. Thanks for taking us to the extreme south; I loved that midnight sun. I hope, one day will be there.

[@michaelgill7248]

Hard to believe it still takes the legendary 1940s DC-3 to get you down to the South Pole. That will be an adventure unto itself.

[@h53se]

DC-3 can only be replaced with DC-3, I am sure that if they start produsing new DC-3 there will be byers for them.

[@IntrospectorGeneral]

That one has been remanufactured by Basler Turbo Conversions in Wisconsin. They've been producing these turboprop conversions since 1990 with many mods to increase airframe longevity.

[@aadixum]

That's because aircraft need to carry enough fuel to fly back to their departure airport, and directly flying to the south pole is nearly impossible considering the fuel restriction.

[@walimohammed7866]

These pilots are the best. God bless them FOREVER. 🎉👍❤️🤲

[@stefeniedavidmusic]

Pretty amazing when you think of the ordeal and hardships Scott, Shackleton and all the early Antarctic explorers endured and often didn't live to tell about it. What a trip this would be. Thanks for sharing because I doubt if I could ever afford this one.

[@Mesohornet11]

Yes I love to think of it while paying my way!

[@zainnoorrahman4821]

Thanks Sam. It is wonderful to see that the sun never set in Antartica by the time you were there. Keep healthy Sam cause I will be waiting for your next episode of rare flights!

[@teazerfemi]

Thanks a zillion times Sam Chui for this fantastic video,how I wish I could travel the world with you.

[@derrickconnolly9164]

I spent five years at the north pole. Offshore drilling in the eighties. We sat on 2000 ft of water. 30 ft of ice. Absolutely crazy stuff. Pitch black 24/7 and in the spring when the sun starts to come back amazing place. Breath taking beauty. Extreme cold.

[@tonynieuwoudt8469]

Having been an aircraft maintenance engineer for 32 years, many of them spent working and flying on the A340, including a maintenance C-check on a HiFly A340, this post was exceptional. Thank you. Currently unemployed in South Africa BTW.

[@thabotshabalala7114]

Hope work comes your way Tony, just prayed for u

[@trinayan1]

What a breathtaking icy landscape. I was awestruck with the beauty of the Antarctica.

[@CountingCountries]

This is a bucket list experience! Thank you for taking us along

[@karthikprakash9324]

Sam, i always feel like myself being out there in the flights & places you visit. Thanks a lot!

[@jamiesonwebb]

Thank you Sam. That was one of your best videos yet. Thank for sharing such an amazing experience. The visual landscape was stunning.

[@splatmacpuffin]

AWESOME!!! Incredible footage ! As always Sam you really make the av geeks proud !!

[@konradallan]

This is truly inspiring Sam and has motivated me to get to Antarctica one day.

[@lannyheslop2170]

Always love watching your exotic flights

[@RK-oq3bx]

Thank you, Sam, for taking us to Antarctica once in our lifetime along with you👍

[@alexhodgkinson618]

What an incredible experience and equally incredible video! Even by your very high standards this one rates amongst the best for me! Fantastic Sam, thank you for sharing this journey 🙏

[@jamesmathew6236]

This is awesome and breathtaking, Sam! Thanks for sharing this incredible experience!!

[@leokimvideo]

The Air New Zealand DC10 crash into Mount Erebus is still fresh in my memory and a reminder how dangerous flying in a all white environment is. Many younger folk won't know about that major jet crash that killed all onboard in 1979. The weird huts you see down there is a peek into the future of Sydney housing. Interesting to see the pilot struggling with the low midnight sun. It's all amazing but the risks down there are many.

[@WhatsA495]

Thanks for the comment You can Text me for recommendations ⬆️📩

[@kayy22978]

I know about that, but why would you comment that.

[@LiterallyHaz]

I’m 15 but I know about that crash. Gotta blame the DC-10 for it tho, probably the worst designed aircraft ever in terms of safety.

[@GoInfidel]

thought that crash was due to a software problem that may have been intentional the Antarctic should not be a beurocratic nightmare to explore, give me a break all nations signing a treaty to limit access to the rich and powerful we can only imagine what's being hid

[@barryvincentredmond3973]

That crash into Mt Erebus was so shocking back in 1979.Air New Zealand tried to blame the pilots initially but the presiding judge exposed the truth and accused Air New Zealand of spreading "a litany of lies".The incorrect coordinates had been programmed into the flight computer.Nothing wrong with the DC-10 aircraft either.

[@academyofenglish4781]

We are thankful to your highness for making us fly and land in amazing places which we might have never thought about

[@KatrinaLUFC211]

I love your content, this video was amazing, how unique when you literally land in Antarctica and it’s 10PM at night, and as bright as that! Wow thank you

[@homicide2684]

Thank you Sam for sharing. What an incredible experience. Don't know if I could ever make it there but I absolutely loved that I got to experience it this way with you Sam.

[@christian_globalimages]

Oh my gosh, the three flight attendants who welcomed you on board! Just as stunning as the scenery! 😍

[@jsmithepa]

Super models FAs not found on Ryan Air.

[@VILSONDUSEVIC]

Especially the left one

[@srinivasrao369]

Nice observation bro 👌

[@bbbbbb3734]

🤨

[@miketennent9036]

Portuguese beauties 😍😛

[@Rags2250]

I flew in on US military air craft to McMurdo from New Zealand, how sweet that ride you had was!! I found the extreme of the Antarctic was amazing!

[@manya713]

Sam, it's been years since I am following each and every video and lived on your Experience. You may not realize but unknowingly you are helping people like me to Live with this wonderful experience that we always dream to experience at least once in Lifetime. Thank you Thank you Thank you very much for such amazing content as always.

[@xbaldwin97]

Such an underrated plane love the a340 don't see many in the skies anymore

[@raulsarmiento7326]

Amazing - landing an A340 on ice and making it look just like any other runway. Fun Sam - thank you!

[@guyrussell9233]

UNBELIEVABLE!! HOW LUCKY YOU ALL WERE TO GO AND VISIT THE ANTARTICA!! WONDERFUL !!❤❤❤❤❤NINA

[@enziogehrig9425]

Excellent video! Thank you so much Sam for sharing this amazing experience with us!

[@fonzireyes]

I am sincerely happy for you. All the planes you've flown, all the places you've seen and all the people you've met. I love your channel and hope to shake your hand at some point.

[@SamChui]

Thank you so much!

[@randallthrift1249]

@@SamChui definitely way too short of an awesome video. It would be my last continent to set foot on. But one day I certainly hope to do so. I'm 65 and counting. 🙂

[@mayonnkonrad8926]

Me too

[@grahambassett1048]

WOW - Unbelievable. Your best video to date, my viewpoint only. I’m really enjoying your ‘adventure trip’ video’s. I’ll never get to Antartica, but you gave me the next best experience, thank you. I just couldn’t believe the clarity of landscape, & light. The sunset shots panning over ‘Wolf’s Fang’ was just absolutely magical & memorable. Thank you Sam. (P.S. Hey Sam you were certainly ‘hugging & puffing’ up that ‘lookout mountain’ climb. Lots of Laughter from me, but in a good way). Keep up the great work.

[@SamChui]

Thank you so much Graham!

[@snikdhoakhtar3080]

I wish I were there. Thank you Chui for this breathtaking tour. Great job.

[@randaneure]

thank you for showing this as you do this amazing tour. love it.

[@Pseudochick01]

That was AMAZING!!!!!!! Must be really awesome to experience a day sunlight when it’s actually midnight!!

[@holditorsken2030]

we do every summer in norway😛

[@SamChui]

Yes, it was a strange experience, my body felt tired at midnight but the sun is still out there!

[@soaroy]

​@@holditorsken20304 mos white nights in Svalbard.

[@kenny9088]

the ability for these airplanes to fly and take you anywhere around the world is amazing. one day u are in antartica where 1am seems like 7pm and the next day u are landing in africa is truly amazing. Awesome video Sam

[@kenny9088]

@D R i agree aviation in general is amazing. Is incredible what human is able to achieve

[@kenny9088]

@@johnlennox-pe2nq ok lol

[@apinkkoala6084]

Thanks for sharing this amazing experience with us Sam ! you are always good , your vidéos are fantastics for an aviation fan !

[@soujrnr]

What a great adventure, Sam!! Those flight attendants are surely some of the most beautiful I've ever seen!! And what a gorgeous plane inside and out! Talk about leg room. Wow. The flight crew was great as well! What a great time that would be to be able to go to Antarctica! I'm jealous. What an amazing place!! Thanks for sharing!! I really like those little pods too! How awesome would that be to stay there for a week or so! Safe travels, Sam!

[@TheRareVideosXL]

This was such a fascinating trip with absolutely breathtaking views. Great content as always. Keep it up.

[@Devyn6Seven]

Another awesome video, Sam! I don't like cold much but I'd love to land on that runway someday.

[@davidhazit]

Sam, it is breathtaking just to see this on KZbin. Thanks for sharing this experience with us.

[@mairwyncurtis2102]

What a truly unique journey. Just beautiful!

[@bradennetzly8291]

I never knew about Antarctica tourism until I studied abroad in Argentina as a university student when I met two people in my language school who visited Antarctica. A few weeks later I visited Ushuaia and got to see a ship coming from Antarctica, and that was the day I was determined to visit the seventh continent. I’m jealous of your travel, but I am so happy to see this content from you Sam, showing the aviation aspect of Antarctica. Cheers to you!

[@alabama1413]

What a truly breathtaking journey to that southern wilderness. Thanks so much for sharing this once in a lifetime experience Sam. Stay safe & best wishes 👍👍👍

[@SamChui]

Thank you, really appreciate it!

[@teshwold9634]

This is the best place you ever shared with us, Thanks a lot for posting this wonderful story

[@byesprite8952]

Imagine they fly away without you 💀

[@unknownman83985]

Bruuuuu 🐺⚠️

[@baidiksarkar160]

That no-nonsense look on the Captn's face while landing must be one of the coolest BA things out there in Aviation. Antarctica: Been there, done that - check. Thank you Sam. You are Incred.

[@shawndavis9349]

Wow --- what a flight!!! The views were awesome. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@asmodeus6631]

Wow Sam, that's definitely the most memorable flight you have probably ever taken as your are the one of the very few who will go there. Amazing 👍 love the channel ❤️

[@Kaipeternicolas]

Amazing video and what an absolute dream to go down there! Last week I flew some customers from San Diego (20C) to Mammoth (-9C) and only had my Jeans and my Sweater on. Ir made me chuckle when I saw you and all the passengers with all the extreme winter gear for cold weather with only -8C. However I was only outside for maybe 15 minutes before heading into the FBO - so there is that.

[@ryori4176]

Hi Sam, here is my contribution for thermal socks. Wow, antartica! You have come such a long-way from that first flight on KZbin, the SA from Sydney to Singapore. Keep it up...

[@souljahboy8092]

Sam, I am at speechless with this video. Thank you for sharing with the rest of us.

[@Slykkpkins]

An amazing adventure for sure. One myself I would sure like to experience. Such a wild beautiful desolate unspoilt continent. Thank you

[@Georgemanuel57]

Amazing had no idea there was a runway anywhere in Antarctica that could accommodate a jet aircraft of this size. Great video!

[@kwerk2011]

Well over 50 runways in Antarctica, at least 16 of which could cater for an aircraft of this size.

[@tensa7132]

For anyone wondering this day trip costs $14,500 😭 but what an incredible experience to be able to talk to the pilots, witness their flying AND set foot in Antarctica. Just absolutely stunning scenery.

[@jshbontjer]

Thanks for sharing your beautiful experience! Beautifully filmed!

[@robertmorin5215]

THX Sam for this beautiful journey

[@maloxd8948]

Even tho I really miss the A340, I love this video, Sam!! I also saw the first A340 landing in Antartica earlier this year on Twitter *(probably)*

[@MichaelCarrPilot]

The captain at 11:08 when he really wanted to put the visor down for the sun but your camera was in the way. He just left it - nice captain!

[@JosVerbeek]

This was mind blowing fantastic to watch. Thank you so much Sam!

[@ellysoumokil2827]

Amazing... Thank U for sharing your experience, Sam. Love it

[@Reamigullas]

Watching your videos keeping me motivated to fly and not be afraid of heights 😅

[@BrennenL]

Epic video! Any Antarctica content, from any creator, is appreciated. Meanwhile, i'm watching this when it's -49C windchill at my house right now, lol.

[@jeffpalmer5502]

Wow Sam, what a great opportunity. And on a 4 engine bird ! Glad you had a great trip and thanks for another fine video

[@salmanfarsi224]

This is the best vlog i ever seen.thank you sam !!! Antarctica is like another planet,just cool!

[@baomao7243]

One of those great places where you can fly in hot and without flaps…just to overcome massive headwind and touch down with incredibly low ground speed. Crazy.

[@Joshua-zh9mk]

Love you videos Sam. I aspire to fly on some of these planes!

[@FelipeCerdaBarra]

What an amazing experience! Loved the video.

[@notmrsheamus]

This is definitely something that motivates me to work hard. Awesome experience!

[@imdadshah7481]

Beautiful vlog beautiful airplane journey i like it your video 💯👍🌹

[@r.parthasarathysarathy3605]

day by day your videos are getting the most popular in the whole world, as we travel the whole continent with you sir. Keep it up and best wishes from all of your subscribers sir,

[@SamChui]

thank you for your kind comment.

[@climber950]

I’ve watched your channel for years Sam and this is hands down one of the coolest videos you’ve done.

[@Nooticus]

Excellent video! The no.1 youtube channel for unique aviation experiences!

[@stephenfienberg8765]

Hi Sam, as I'm sure you're aware, Volga Dnepr flies a IL-76 from Cpt to another Antarctic base. I know it's a Russian airline but it would be amazing if you could hitch a ride on that plane this summer. I saw it on the Cpt tarmac last week.

[@MrBorisSPb]

I flew several times CPT-Novo airbase and back in 2013-2015. The first flight was in IL-76 navigator cabin with a fantastic survey. Have short videos with IL-76 on my YT channel.

[@gpierre90]

Hey Sam, that was awesome, Breathtaking scenery, clear weather, clear skies, just beautiful, but I wonder how researchers sleep in Antarctica in the summer months, the sun never sets and its like 10 11 pm to midnight.

[@SimonVega318]

There are these ultra technologically advanced devices called blinds and curtains that the researches use to be able to sleep when the sun never sets. They're amazing and will hopefully become available to the common folk one day.

[@TeamDriftEVO]

Thank you Sam for posting this - its just - AWSOME

[@captn_railaviation]

Thank you very much for this incredible video! You made it look absolutely epic and I hope that your Trip was very nice! Thanks for all the work you put in this video to share it with us. Amazing!

[@apt5044]

What a fabulous experience Sam! Thank you for sharing this. Is it just me or did the flight controls look to be glitching during the whole flight, flashing on and off? That aside, I love your child-like wonder for the world around you. Your best yet!

[@iaexo]

It's because the refresh rate of the screens was about the same as that of the digital camera. Film a fan spinning at high speed with your phone and you will see a similar effect

[@apt5044]

@@iaexo Thank you Jan. Appreciate your response

[@apt5044]

@@iaexo thanks for explaining!

[@patriciafuchs5970]

Wow, I’ve flown in DC3’s in the mid 1960’s!, from Elkins, West Virginia to Baltimore, Maryland!! It was noisy and a bit scary as we flew over the Appalachian mountains. I have often wondered if there were still any DC3’s in service. Now I know!!

[@danbender2161]

I never knew that Elkins had an airport. I spent Thanksgiving week on Middle Mountain Road off of Rt 33 for almost 30 years. Deer hunting.

[@patriciafuchs5970]

@@danbender2161 this was in 1967

[@tombarb2864]

Wow…..just wow….. thanks for taking us along !

[@shaklanstudio6971]

i would love longer versions of these one of a kind trips to one of a kind places

[@ramudu123b6]

Excellent vlog brother

[@user-cp3mq5dg1f]

привет из россии. класс давно смотрю. это супер видосик.).

[@elaine4498]

Wow amazing, you are so lucky to do what you do, thank you for taking us with you. Have a great Christmas

[@NEKHALOVlogs]

What a great experience, unreal. Thank you Sam ❤

[@chuckz4924]

This was such a great video Sam. I'm envious. Is this a regularly scheduled flight that anyone can book or was this a special event? I would love to make that trip. I also thought the temps would be colder than -6C . Not bad for a winter... aka summer

[@matthewpham2665]

You can book this day trip experience. Check the website Sam posted. I checked the website and may do it some day. However, I am leaning more towards taking a flight from Chile then transfer to a boat to Antarctica.

[@PimpSolja49]

@@matthewpham2665 Follow ACE on KZbin. He just did the same thing you are wanting to do and he filmed his experience! He just uploaded new videos. He left from Argentina tho, not Chile.

[@samisam2866]

Welcome to Antarctica..☺️

[@ererc]

This is awesome and breathtaking video highlighting an incredible experience. Thanks for sharing Sam!!

[@avioncamper]

Sam, what a wonderful trip. Thank you.

[@riesjart3874]

Seems like such a unique place to fly, cool to see people there are relying on the DC-3 still. Hope to see you covering and sharing the described trip to 90S next year!