FLIGHT INFO:
Server: Solo
Route: São Paulo, Brazil to Ushuaia, Argentina
Aircraft and Livery: Airbus A320-200, JetSmart
Flight Time: 5 hours, 03 minutes
CONTEXT:
It was a stereotypical rainy day in Shannon, when I was on a work Zoom meeting. I work for they National Virology Center of the United States, but since my job only involves in person meetings a few times a year, I’m free to live wherever I’d like. The director of my division announced that someone needed to travel to Antarctica to help some British scientists collect ice core samples. That lucky person must bring back a sample to be tested for various prehistoric viruses.
But, keep in mind, its still not summer! Nobody volunteered to take the samples. My boss said that someone had to do it, so I begrudgingly agreed.
Everyone else signed off the meeting, thankful that they weren’t the ones heading to the South Pole, and my boss sent a flight itinerary. Oh boy…
Flight One: COMPLETE
Aer Lingus A320
Shannon-London Heathrow
Flight Two: COMPLETE
British Airways 787-10
London Heathrow - São Paulo
Flight Three: COMPLETE
JetSmart A320
São Paulo - Ushuaia
Flight Four:
Infinite Flight Charters Q-400
Ushuaia - King George Island, Antarctica
After six hours in São Paulo’s Airport, I was ready to move on. I ate at a few nice restaurants, splurged for access to a lounge, and walked up and down the sprawling terminals, but wanted to just get moving again. I found my gate just as they were boarding, right on time, for my trip to Ushuaia.
I settled into my seat, accepted a glass of water from the flight attendants, and we pushed back. Somehow, I scored, and was the only person in my aisle!
A nice view, posted on a fellow passengers Instagram account, captured as we rotated off of runway 27R. We had to wait while a GOL 737 MAX and an American 777 took off, but it was fun to watch them. Neither of those aircraft are seen all two often in the tiny town of Shannon!
With a population of more than 22 million, the São Paulo Metro sprawls out for miles in any direction. I snapped this photo over the suburb of Osasco, which alone has a population nearly double that of Dublin’s.
Somewhere over the ocean, the snack service started. I was full from lunch at the airport, so just opted for some cranberry juice.
Land ho! Just north of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego Province, we see our first sign of land! The turbulence increased a bit, but nothing much, and it was only noticeable for the lack of turbulence otherwise.
The evening set in and visibility dropped as we made our base approach into Ushuaia.
Things are looking a little better on the right side though! This just goes to show how unstable the weather is as we near Antarctica.
Buttering onto Runway 25, a bit off center, but otherwise a nice landing.
Welcome to South America’s southernmost airport! The runway is 10,000 feet long, and the exit to the terminal is close to the end, so we had to taxi the rest of the way down to reach out gate.
Safely at the jetway, I grab my backpack, deplane, and head to customs! Just a few hours till I’m on the last leg of my trip!
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