easyJet To Operate Charity Northern Lights Flight in 2023
easyJet Airbus A320-214 (OE-IVZ) - Manuel Estevez - AirTeamImages.com
UK-based airline easyJet plans to operate a Northern Lights Charity Flight in February 2023 in partnership with Aerobility, a flying disability charity, to host a unique 'Aurora Flight', providing the opportunity to experience the magic of the Northern Lights at 30,000 feet.
This flight will be the first "Northern Lights" that the airline and Aerobility will conduct since the COVID-19 pandemic, which has allowed hundreds of passengers to enjoy incredible views of the "Northern Lights" from the sky over the past 8 years.
The plane was flying over the Arctic when the light show began - Photo: SWNS (South West News Service)
The ''Aurora Borealis" flight will depart London Gatwick on February 18, 2023. It will include a two-course meal at the Gatwick Sofitel Hotel, pre-departure presentations, and in-flight commentary from special guests, including presenter Pete Lawrence and Aurora experts from the British Antarctic Survey.
easyJet flight statistics provided by AirNav RadarBox (October 2 - 8)
What are the northern lights?
Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), CC BY-SA 3.0
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are a spectacular, colorful display of light commonly seen in the night sky in the northern hemisphere. Auroras in the southern hemisphere are known as the southern lights or aurora australis.
How aurora forms
Image source: Norwegian Centre for Space Weather (NOSWE)
Auroras occur when charged particles (electrons and protons) collide with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere. Those collisions produce tiny flashes that fill the sky with colorful light. As billions of flashes occur in sequence, the auroras appear to move or "dance
" in the sky. Earth's magnetic field steers the charged particles toward the poles. The shape of Earth's magnetic field creates two auroral ovals above the North and South Magnetic Poles. That is why auroras occur almost every night in the northern sky from August to May.
