News | Iceland Monitor | Thu 30 Apr 2015 | 11.38 GMT | Modified 26 Apr 2016 16.13

Life-saving air operations 50 today

Image 1 of 8 TF-LIF over Greenland. Photo: Árni Sæberg

Image 2 of 8 TF-EIR, the first ICG helicopter from 1965, by an Icelandic lighthouse. Photo: Páll Halldorsson collection

Image 3 of 8 TF-EIR at the Landmannaafréttur sheep round-up. Photo: Páll Halldorsson collection

Image 4 of 8 TF-EIR crew. Photo: Páll Halldorsson collection

Image 5 of 8 TF-LIF bringing an injured man to hospital in Reykjavik. Photo: Árni Sæberg

Image 6 of 8 ICG air crew, 2015. Photo: Árni Sæberg

Image 7 of 8 Flying over Greenland. Photo: Árni Sæberg

Image 8 of 8 ICG helicopter. Photo: Árni Sæberg

Fifty years ago today, the Icelandic Coast Guard brought its first search-and-rescue helicopter into service. Since then ICG helicopters have saved some 3,000 lives.

In 1965, the Icelandic Coast Guard (known in Icelandic as ‘Landhelgisgæslan’) bought its first Bell 47J helicopter (TF-EIR). Today, the aeronautical division of ICG has a fleet of four: one DHC-8 prop-jet aircraft and three Super Puma helicopters.

The early years were tough, with accidents frequent, including a helicopter crash in 1983 which killed all four crew members. But ICG was undeterred and search-and-rescue helicopter mission continue to this day.

ICG will be holding celebrations to mark the event today. Since helicopter operations began fifty years ago, an estimated 3,000 lives have been saved – 2,000 of them since 1994.