Grønnedal Heliport

Kangilinnguit, GL 🇬🇱 Closed Airport

ICAO

GL-0017

IATA

-

Elevation

- ft

Region

GL-SE

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 61.237704° N, -48.105526° E

Continent: NA

Type: Closed Airport

Keywords: Bluie West Seven Green Valley Groennedal JGR GL-JGR

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

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Airport Information

Technical Information

For Aviation Geeks

Designation Length Width Surface Status
H1/ 131 ft 147 ft ASP Active

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 25, 2025
Closure Date

October 2014. The heliport ceased all official operations concurrently with the formal closure of the Kangilinnguit naval base, also known as Grønnedal.

Reason for Closure

Military consolidation and strategic realignment. The heliport's closure was a direct result of the Danish Armed Forces' decision to shut down the Grønnedal naval base. This was part of the Danish Defence Agreement 2013-2017, which established a new, unified Joint Arctic Command (Arktisk Kommando) headquartered in Nuuk. The move to Greenland's capital centralized command and logistics, making the isolated and costly Grønnedal base redundant.

Current Status

The heliport, along with the entire former naval base, is abandoned and unmaintained. After the Danish military departed in 2014, the site was transferred to the Government of Greenland. The infrastructure, including the helipad, buildings, and support facilities, is in a state of decay due to the harsh Arctic environment and lack of use. The area is now a ghost town with no permanent population or ongoing activity.

Historical Significance

The heliport was exclusively a military facility, vital to the operation of the Grønnedal naval base. From 1951 until its closure, Grønnedal was the headquarters of the Greenland Command (Grønlands Kommando), representing Denmark's primary military presence in Greenland. The heliport handled all helicopter traffic for the base, which included transporting personnel, carrying light cargo and supplies, supporting search and rescue (SAR) missions, and providing a logistical link to naval vessels and other settlements, particularly the airport at Narsarsuaq. It played a key role in Denmark's efforts to assert sovereignty and conduct surveillance in the North Atlantic and Greenlandic waters throughout the Cold War and beyond.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known official plans or viable prospects for reopening the heliport. The military's strategic shift to Nuuk is permanent. While various civilian uses for the former base have been discussed in the past, such as for tourism or research, none have materialized due to the prohibitive costs of renovating, operating, and accessing the remote site. The heliport is expected to remain closed and abandoned for the foreseeable future.

Nearby Airports

Kangilinnguit Heliport
JGR • BGGD
Kangilinnguit, GL
Heliport Scheduled Service
~1 km away
Arsuk Heliport
JRK • BGAR
Arsuk, GL
Heliport
~18 km away
Qassimiut Heliport
QJH • BGQT
Qassimiut, GL
Heliport Scheduled Service
~72 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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