It has something of a flying laboratory: When a Dreamliner with the Qantas logo takes off in New York on Saturday night – destination Sydney – then it is not a normal flight into the distance. In addition to the crew, there will be a few dozen passengers on board and scientists on a mission. You want to find out how travelers who fly for almost 20 hours straight are doing. So far there has not been such a long direct flight. But that could change soon.
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Qantas plans to start a series of three test flights this weekend as part of Project Sunrise. The Australian airline is considering adding the Sydney – New York connection to the flight plan. According to Qantas, such a flight would take around 19.5 hours – it would be the longest non-stop flight in the world.
So far, Singapore Airlines can boast of this record: a plane takes up to 18 hours to cover the 15,000-kilometer distance between Singapore Changi and Newark Airport, west of New York City. Qantas itself is already on the ultra-long haul route – but to Europe: From Perth on the west coast of Australia to London there is also no stopover.
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But now the company is ready for the marathon flight from New York to Sydney, according to Qantas. “An airplane and the passengers are ready to test the mental and physical limits of long-haul flights,” says a press release. At the weekend the time has come, and the 50 passengers and crew would board a Boeing 787-9s. It is a new Dreamliner that has just come out of the factory.
New strategies against jet lag
Six voluntary frequent flyers will also be there for the first test flight. They would be equipped with so-called wearables – technology that is worn on the body, for example for measuring the pulse and other values. They want to “conduct studies” with the aim of improving well-being on board such a long flight. In addition, Qantas is hoping to gain new knowledge to develop strategies against jetlag.
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A number of questions arose, including the sleep rhythm of staff and passengers and the attention of the pilots. In the latter, for example, according to Qantas, the brain waves are measured during the flight in order to monitor their tiredness and the ability to react. Urine samples will provide information about the melatonin levels of the pilots, four of whom will be on board working in shifts.
“We will ask you at different times during the flight how you are feeling,” Tracey Sletten told the Australian magazine “Business Insider”. Sletten is one of the scientists who will go on board. There will also be tests in the air on the ability to react in the event of a lack of sleep, surveys on feelings of stress and comfort in the cabin.
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“This is one of the last major challenges facing modern aviation,” said Sean Golding, one of the Financial Times’ test pilots. The non-stop connection from New York to Sydney would ensure that passengers save three to four hours of travel time.
For the climate, ultra-long-haul flights are no better than flights with a stopover to refuel. They have a particularly large carbon footprint. After all, Qantas announced for the first test flight: “The CO2 emissions will be offset.”
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