NASA-P3 aerial photo of EastGRIP camp from one week ago (April 19). The image show garage partly to almost covered in snow and main dome clear. Many marker poles are visible.
April 26, 2022
NASA-P3 aerial photo of EastGRIP camp from one week ago (April 19). The image show garage partly to almost covered in snow and main dome clear. Many marker poles are visible.
Due to unexpected delays of obtaining expedition permits from the Greenland authorities, our American colleagues and EGRIP are stuck in Kangerlussuaq.
The Battelle ARO logistics of NSF has just this morning (around 11.30 greenlandic time) received permits to fly to Summit and fly to Raven. They will fly today to put-in Raven skiway. The past weekend and Monday, the 109th have been stuck and not able to complete their training program. An open Raven skiway is necessary for our open snow put-in at EGRIP as Raven is an alternate for such a mission.
EGRIP has not yet received permission; but we have been promised it will arrive in a day or two. All prerequisites have been met.
The 109th are now loading planes for first flight to Raven. They need four flights to complete Raven put-in and they hope to fly twice today and then twice tomorrow, before 109th fly their crews back to N.Y. on Wednesday afternoon. New crews will arrive Thursday.
Therefore, the earliest possible put-in for EGRIP will be Friday. The delays of expedition permits is not caused by Battelle ARO or us. The Greenland radio authority has had severe IT problems which has held back radio permits for more than two months. Rumour has it that the Greenland Government has been "hacked".
The EGRIP put-in crew is waiting in Kangerlussuaq and is in good mood.
Iben, Marie and J.P.