Gale Force NorthField Systems & Operations

Field Systems & Operations / Selected Work

Expedition planning and technical field operations.

Selected examples of expedition preparation, remote operations, glacier work, communications, equipment, logistics, and field documentation.

06Selected examples
01Field systems

Swiss Camp Decommissioning

Glacier and field support for the 2026 decommissioning of Swiss Camp on the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Role

GFN participated in the operation in a glacier and field leadership capacity. The work included preparation before deployment, glacier travel and self-rescue systems, technical equipment, communications, field documentation, operational support on the ice, and support around helicopter movements and demobilization.

Outcome

The operation completed its primary field objective and removed approximately 80% of the material remaining at Swiss Camp. Thousands of kilograms were moved from the ice by helicopter sling load. These figures describe the result of the wider operation, not work owned by GFN alone.

Expedition preparationGlacier and field leadershipGlacier travel systemsRope and rescue systemsFirst-aid preparationCold-weather equipment
Swiss Camp field team beside a helicopter in Greenland
02Aviation recovery

Greenland Ice Sheet Aviation Recovery & Under Ice

Air France Flight 66 fan-hub recovery, ice-sheet field work, and the Under Ice documentary record.

Role

Joined the privately organized recovery expedition as an Icelandic field specialist, bringing glacier travel, rope, and rescue experience to the extraction work. The expedition was not an Icelandic SAR operation. After the mission, Arnar Ingi created Under Ice, a 30-minute documentary about the final recovery expedition, over a four-month production period. The film is listed on IMDb and serves as a public documentary artifact for the project.

Outcome

The fan hub fragment was recovered from the Greenland Ice Sheet and delivered for further inspection as part of the aviation safety investigation. Under Ice preserved the final recovery work as a public documentary record, extending the value of the field operation beyond the extraction itself.

Arctic field operationsIcelandic SAR experienceGlacial travelCrevasse-field awarenessTechnical extractionMountain rescue systems
Air France Flight 66 recovery mission on the Greenland Ice Sheet
03Arctic logistics

Svalbard SAR Expedition Planning & Execution

Planning and execution of a 60 km Svalbard SAR expedition with route, camp, comms, and marine extraction.

Role

Planned and executed the expedition for members of an Icelandic search-and-rescue team. Led route planning, participant coordination, deadline management, travel logistics, accommodation coordination, safety-equipment planning, authority coordination, and extraction planning.

Outcome

The expedition was planned, coordinated, and executed as a successful 60 km Arctic field operation for 18 participants, with a defined route, safety structure, communications plan, polar-bear risk controls, camp organization, and planned marine extraction.

Arctic expedition planningSAR team coordinationRoute planningRisk managementWeather planningPolar-bear safety planning
Svalbard expedition team with full packs in open Arctic valley terrain
04Professional background

FBSR Search-and-Rescue Background

Membership and training with Flugbjörgunarsveitin Reykjavík form part of the field experience behind GFN's expedition work.

Role

The field background behind GFN includes membership in Flugbjörgunarsveitin Reykjavík and practical training in mountain travel, navigation, first aid, communications, search, rescue systems, and coordinated team operations.

Outcome

Membership and training with FBSR contribute directly to the preparation, teamwork, technical competence, and field judgement GFN brings to expedition assignments.

Mountain travelRescue systemsField safetyTeam coordinationEquipment preparationOperational judgement
Flugbjörgunarsveitin Reykjavík members undertaking field rescue training
05Professional background

Professional Glacier Guiding Background

Professional guiding experience with Icelandic Mountain Guides and Arctic Adventures forms part of the field background behind GFN.

Role

The experience behind GFN includes professional work as a guide for Icelandic Mountain Guides and Arctic Adventures, leading people in mountain and glacier environments in Iceland.

Outcome

This professional guiding background supports the field judgement, communication, equipment preparation, and responsibility for people that GFN brings to expedition assignments.

Glacier travelGroup managementRoute selectionEquipment preparationField communicationChanging conditions
Privately arranged glacier outing in Iceland with a team from Nokia
06Field capability

Field Drone Operations

Aerial imaging and documentation for expeditions, remote operations, site records, and project communications.

Role

GFN can plan and carry out drone photography and video as part of a field assignment, coordinating flights with the team and the operational requirements of the site.

Outcome

The resulting aerial material can support site records, technical documentation, progress reporting, project communications, or a wider field-media package.

Aerial photographyAerial videoField documentationSite recordsEquipment preparationMedia management
Drone equipment used for field photography and video

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