Folks,

I am a sailor and not an airline pilot.

Recently I had a lunch with a 747 captain and the subject of
polar airline routes came up.

I maintained I didn't think any commercial routes went directly over
the pole or north of 80 N.Lat because the great circle routes from
say San Francisco to London didn't go that far north.

He said they did indeed fly much further north on such a route
due to prevailing winds etc.... It still seems incredible that this
is true because the normal position of the North Polar Jet is
considerably below 60 N.Lat.

Anyhow how would a London-Seattle route go?

....or even Berlin to San Francisco?

In short, are there any commercial routes flying over 90 North?

Bill

www.nyx.net/~wboas