Drone testing
Greenland is not part of the EU and drone flights are not regulated by the EU legislation. However, Greenland has its own regulations and all drone pilots must be familiar with the BL 9-4 section of the Aviation Act.
There are no specific requirements for recreational drone pilots so long as their drone:
- weighs less than 25kg
- is flown more than 5 km from civilian airports and 150m away from towns/settlements
- does not go beyond a 100m maximum altitude over terrain
However, companies and institutions wishing to fly drones for commercial, testing, or research purposes must apply for an exemption from the rules (dispensation permit). Arctic Unmanned are the Greenland drone experts and can assist you in preparing your application.
Why Kangerlussuaq?
Few inhabited areas – The Arctic generally has a low population density, but Greenland with the ice sheet stands out. Kangerlussuaq has only 500 inhabitants and the nearest settlement of Sarfannguit (~100 inhabitants) is 80 kilometers away. Further westward is the nearest town, Sisimiut, 128 km away with a population of 5,500.
Drone activity outside Kangerlussuaq will not disturb any other inhabited areas, particularly towards South, East and North.
Stable weather – Kangerlussuaq is located 130km from the coast and protected from low pressure systems coming from the south-west by the Maniitsoq Ice Cap. It has the most cloud-free days and very little wind and precipitation compared with other locations in Greenland. It is perfect for cold-weather testing as temperatures regularly reach -30C, down to -40C during winter.
Access to remote areas – Kangerlussuaq is the only settlement in Greenland where you can drive far enough to escape the airport restricted zone for drone flights. It currently has the longest gravel road in Greenland (~50km from Kellyville to the Ice Sheet), which will be extended all the way to Sisimiut in the future. In winter, it is also possible to travel on “ice roads”, which provide further opportunities for drone testing locations in the backcountry.
Key test sites – Sandflugtsdalen
To date, Sandflugtsdalen has been the key test site for drones. It is located about 15 – 20km from Kangerlussuaq along the road to the Ice Sheet and it’s fairly easy to build a small landing strip for fixed wing drones there.
A specific area for drone tests has now been approved by Navair. It has a ceiling height of 700m (2300ft) and includes parts of Sandflugtsdalen to the north-west, part of Desert Valley to the south-west and the Ice Sheet to the east. The area also includes land areas with lakes and is home to a significant population of reindeer and muskox for those wishing to test wildlife sensing equipment.
Conferences
In 2023, an annual drone conference focused on the Arctic was launched in Kangerlussuaq.
The first two conferences took place in January and September 2023, organized by Qeqqata Kommunia, DI Danish Defence and Security Industries, and ESBEES. Their goal was to foster growth, sustainability, and technological advancements in the Arctic, both in the drone industry and broader sectors.
In 2024, the event was renamed the Arctic Security Conference and held in September. It was organized by Qeqqata Kommunia, DI Danish Defence and Security Industries, and Arctic Unmanned. The program can be found on the conference page.