Icelandic Coast Guard Aeronautical Division

The Icelandic Coast Guard Aeronautical Division is the air wing of the Icelandic Coast Guard.

History
The Coast Guard's Aeronautical Division was founded on 10 December 1955 when a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina flying boat was acquired. It was originally from the Iceland Defense Force but was damaged near Langanes in 1954. It was registered as TF-RAN and nicknamed Rán.

Currently the Icelandic Coast Guard operates three Aerospatiale AS-332L1 Super Puma helicopters, which are registered as TF-LIF, TF-SYN and TF-GNA. As a response to the withdrawal of the Iceland Defense Force at the year 2006 the Coast Guard operated four helicopters, including leased Aérospatiale SA-365N-1 Dauphin 2 TF-EIR, but this number has since been reduced to the three Super Pumas as of 2015.

The Coast Guard also operates a single Bombardier DHC-8-Q314, registered as TF-SIF, modified for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance. This plane has been extensively modified by FIELD to carry a modern Mission Management System and suite of surveillance sensors, air operable door and communications/navigation equipment. It is occasionally also used for surveillance of volcanic eruptions, e.g. of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010.

Unlike the fleet, aircraft of the Icelandic Coast Guard have standard Icelandic civilian registers, as the Althing (parliament) has never agreed on laws for military or government aircraft. Over the time since the division was formed the regulations for standard civilian aircraft have become more restrictive. As a result, the Coast Guard can no longer operate military aircraft like it did in the past. Nevertheless, current helicopters are outfitted with latest generation U.S. night vision equipment, reserved for U.S. armed forces and the armies of their allies and thus the only civilian registered aircraft in the world, so equipped.

Air defence is Responsibility of the U.S. armed forces and the force responsible is called the Iceland Defense Force

Currently operated aircraft/helicopters

 * TF-SIF is a Bombardier DHC-8-Q314 named after Sif, goddess and wife of Thor, the god of thunder and trollslaying. Used for maritime surveillance and replaced Fokker F-27.Landhelgisgaeslan_Helicopter_Iceland.jpg ]]
 * TF-LIF is an Aérospatiale AS-332L1 Super Puma named after Líf, the only woman who will survive Ragnarök. Used for maritime surveillance and search and rescue operations.

Currently operated leased aircraft

 * TF-GNA and TF-SYN are Eurocopter AS 332L1 Super Pumas on long-term lease from Airlift AS of Norway and were brought into service to augment the Coast Guard-owned TF-LIF.

Decommissioned aircraft



 * TF-RAN (I) Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina, named after Rán.
 * TF-SIF (I) Douglas C-54 Skymaster.
 * TF-SYR Fokker F27 Friendship-200.
 * TF-EIR Bell 47J. Joint ownership by the ICG and the National Life-saving Association of Iceland. The very first Iceland registered SAR helicopter.
 * TF-GNA Sikorsky S-62. Joint ownership by the ICG and the National Life-saving Association of Iceland.
 * TF-HUG Bell 47G named after Huginn one of Odin's ravens who flew over the world every morning to gather information for him.
 * TF-MUN Bell 47G named after Muninn one of Odin's ravens who flew over the world every morning to gather information for him.
 * TF-GRO (I) Hughes 500C Defender.
 * TF-RAN (II) Sikorsky S-76 Spirit.
 * TF-GRO (II) Hughes 500C Defender.
 * TF-GRO (III) Eurocopter AS 350B Ecureuil.
 * TF-SIF (II) was an Aérospatiale SA 365N Dauphin II, which was operated from 1984 to 1985.
 * TF-SIF (III) was an Aérospatiale SA 365N Dauphin II It was bought new in 1985 but was destroyed after an emergency sea landing in July 2007
 * TF-SYN was a Fokker F-27-200 Friendship, which was bought new in 1976 and used until 2009. Currently preserved at the Aviation Museum of Akureyri.
 * TF-EIR is an Aérospatiale SA-365N-1 Dauphin 2.

Air Bases

 * Naval Air Station Keflavik