Russian aircrafts explore the region
World Oceanic International Flight which was launched in Russia on July 3, 2018, crossed the Canadian Arctic in eight days and is heading further to Greenland.
As it became known during the press-conference held on June 25, 2018, the Avia Expedition entitled “Your North” is carried out by seven pilots – six Russians and one French – on three small Russian amphibian aircrafts – two LA-8 and one Borey. A total length of the route which lies through Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, UK, Norway, Sweden and Finland covers over 10,000 nautical miles. It is supposed to be surmounted in approximately 45 days with 50 landings, nine of which were meant to be in Canada: Inuvik, NT; Paulatuk, NT; Kugluktuk, NU; Cambridge Bay, NU; Gjoa Haven, NU; Taloyoak, NU; Igloolik, NU; Glade River, NB; Qikiqtarjuaq, NU.
“The main goals of the Expedition are to conduct climatic and medico-biological research, to explore the Earth from low altitudes and to develop potential routes of avia tourism to the Russian North,” broadcasts TASS news agency, following the Flight.
According to their Facebook page, the Avia Expedition arrived in Canada on July 21, 2018, from Alaska through Old Crow, YT. It was originally planned to fly across the country in four or five days, but besides Old Crow, some other Canadian destinations were added. Among them was Hall Beach, NU, where the group had certain difficulties with refueling their aircrafts. There was no fuel in the airport, and the only option was to use petrol from a local gas station. Russian pilots had to make several trips in order to purchase fuel before the weekend closure. Flights were also delayed earlier in Gjoa Haven, NU, due to inclement weather conditions.
Satellite trackers installed on all three aircrafts show that the World Oceanic International Flight reached their final spot in Canada – Qikiqtarjuaq, NU. But as reported by TASS, the agency couldn’t reach the team by means of telecommunication. No update has been posted yet on Facebook. Meanwhile, in videos released on July 28, 2018, two Russian pilots expressed their exhaustion caused by severe Arctic climate in Canada and difficulties in piloting these types of aircrafts in such zones. The Avia Expedition is expected to head from Canada to Greenland.
