To the Arctic with drones – AIRlabs Austria supported students in preparing for the Greenland expedition
Freezing temperatures, impressive glacial landscapes and unpredictable weather awaited the FHJ Arctic Expedition Team (AET) on their research trip to Sermilik in East Greenland, home to the Austrian research station run by the University of Graz. Together with lecturers from FH JOANNEUM, their ERASMUS partner university in Copenhagen and other international partners, the students set off for one of the most remote regions in the world. The goal: applied research under extreme conditions, with drones playing a central supporting role.
To ensure that these drones could be used safely and efficiently, AIRlabs Austria thoroughly prepared the crew months ahead of departure with a tailor-made training programme.
From zero experience to safe drone operation
An FH JOANNEUM student played a key role in the drone operation. To be fully prepared for her tasks, she began training without any prior experience – and step by step developed into a confident drone pilot.
First, Franziska, a student in the Bachelor’s programme in Aviation at FH JOANNEUM, completed the A1/A3 EU drone licence to gain essential legal and safety knowledge. Then the intensive practical training with Kristóf Gombás, technical project manager and operator at AIRlabs Austria, started. Over the course of three intensive training days, Franziska gradually acquired the skills to fly drones safely, even in demanding scenarios.
Training starts on the ground
The first day of training began with the basics: a thorough pre-flight checklist – an essential step to working systematically and safely from the very start. This also included technical settings such as compass calibration, which still has to be carried out manually on smaller models like the DJI Mini 2.
To learn how to fly from the ground up, Franziska started with smaller drones such as the Mini 2 and the Mavic 2 Pro. Only when she had mastered take-off and landing procedures did she move on to the larger systems – the DJI Matrice 300 RTK and the DJI Matrice 4T. Although these perform many functions automatically, they still require a precise understanding of all the steps involved. The step-by-step approach helped her build a solid technical foundation, understand the reasoning behind each preparation step and realistically estimate the time required before a flight.
Mastering orientation – even without direct visibility
Once the basics were established, the next focus was on safe and precise control. Franziska first practised simple rectangular flight paths at different altitudes to consolidate hovering and directional changes. The aim was to train the movements of the two joysticks individually before operating them simultaneously. Orientation posed a particular challenge: as long as the drone was facing the same direction as the pilot, control was intuitive.
Kristóf Gombás: ‘However, once the drone turns, the control commands often feel reversed – a typical source of error for beginners. To address this we introduced specific exercises in which Franziska had to control the drone from different orientations.’
More complex tasks followed, such as changing altitude and direction simultaneously, creating smooth rather than angular flight patterns, and manoeuvring around groups of trees in the AIRlabs Steinalpl test area. Elements of BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) flying were also practised as targeted preparation for future missions beyond visual range.
Another exercise involved moving drones between two aligned take-off and landing sites while Franziska stood offset in the middle, about 10 metres away – a challenge designed to sharpen her spatial orientation under difficult conditions. The level of difficulty was gradually increased until she could perform the manoeuvres confidently, even under slight time pressure.
Speed and safety in an emergency
The next training focus was the simulation of realistic operational scenarios – just as they might have occurred in Greenland. During flights, Kristóf Gombás, training manager and visual observer, gave sudden instructions, such as ordering an immediate landing due to a “fictitious” helicopter approach. In these situations, the priority was no longer clean flying but reacting quickly, safely and correctly under stress. These exercises specifically prepared Franziska for emergencies and helped reinforce behavioural patterns that leave no time for deliberation when every second counts.
The value of this preparation later became evident in practice. Holger Friehmelt, head of the Institute of Aviation at FH JOANNEUM, recalled an incident during the expedition.
Learn, analyse, succeed
Kristóf Gombás emphasised how important it is not only to accept mistakes during training, but also to actively analyse them and integrate them into further exercises: ‘It is precisely through mistakes that you can recognize where difficulties still exist – and adapt the training individually.’
After completing the training, Franziska took the A2 remote pilot licence test – and passed with flying colours.
A foundation of safety for the entire team
Since several drones were used during the expedition, it was important to everyone involved that the entire team had a solid understanding of safe drone operation.
To this end, Tom Bruchmann, technical project manager at AIRlabs Austria, conducted A1/A3 training for nearly 20 people, including all expedition participants. The training went beyond the standard exam content, with a particular focus on operational safety, mission execution and local challenges. The result: everyone passed the exam on their first attempt – and could now act as additional operators or visual observers, assess safety aspects and provide support in an emergency.
Drones in the Arctic – research under extreme conditions
In Greenland, drone technology was used to address a wide range of research questions under extreme conditions – cold, wind and difficult terrain placed particular demands on both people and equipment. This is precisely why thorough preparation and in-depth drone expertise were crucial for the success and safety of such missions.
And this preparation paid off: over the course of more than 100 flight hours in Greenland, it was remarkable that not a single spare part was needed. Holger Friehmelt, head of the Institute of Aviation at FH JOANNEUM, was especially proud of this – as it demonstrated how conscientiously everyone had worked together.
Conclusion: teamwork, precision and passion
Thanks to the close cooperation between FH JOANNEUM, AIRlabs Austria and the expedition participants, the team was thoroughly prepared for the mission in Greenland.
Franziska went to the Arctic as a trained drone pilot – supported by former aviation student and drone pilot Bastian Wagner, along with a well-prepared team that was ready to tackle any challenge, both technically and in terms of safety.
Kristóf Gombás summed it up: ‘It is crucial that pilots know what to do in every situation – and that can only be achieved through training, experience and teamwork.’
With this combination of knowledge, technology and commitment, the JOANNEUM Arctic Expedition Team not only delivered impressive research results, but also demonstrated how drone technology could be applied under the harshest conditions.
Headerbild (f.l.t.r.):
©AIRlabs Austria
©Franziska Herzog
©Leonie Dunke
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