UTair Cargo's 2013 flight program began on April 6. Flights to the North Pole are operated with An-74 aircraft specially equipped for high latitude flights and landing on drift ice in the Arctic Ocean.
On April 7 participants of the youth polar expedition 'To the North Pole on Skis!' were flown from Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow to Naryan-Mar and then to the Barneo Station aboard a TK-100 modification of the An-74 aircraft. The team of seven young members of the Dinamo Society headed by noted travelers Matvey Shparo and Boris Smolin will make their way by ski over more than 100 km of drifting ice in the Arctic Ocean from the Barneo Research Station to the North Pole.
Since 2000 the drifting Barneo Station has recurring seasonal camp constructed at 89 degrees north latitude, approximately 110 km from the North Pole. The yearly settlement is an initiative of the Russian Geographical Society. The station starts functioning every year in April and operates for about a month. April is the most convenient month for conducting Arctic research because at this time of year the temperature does not go below 30'C. UTair Cargo has been the sponsor of air transport for the Arctic Expedition participants and cargo over the past three years.
