It’s possible to track Asian flights a large part of the
way, but since 1993, when the Russians gave permission for airlines to fly over
the pole, there still is no radar, and no air traffic control. Pilots have to fly about 100 miles to the
left or right of the pole and a special kind of tracking takes place between
the pilots and the nearest towers.
Pilots have to constantly report their positions, in order to be
tracked. This is some risky flying. It does save hours of time, and a great deal
of fuel, however, it is so cold, that the fuel can reach its freezing
point. Of course there are warning systems
that notify the crew of a possibility of freezing fuel; and they can fly at a
warmer altitude, but the risks are there.
United Airlines makes over 1,000 polar fly- overs a year, and other airlines make hundreds, but
there is more radiation in that area, and perhaps that is another reason that
it is difficult to track these flights by current methods.
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