Öndunarstoð

Öndunarstoð is an Icelandic term that translates roughly to “air rescue” or “air support.” It refers to the organized service that provides medical, technical and logistical assistance in emergencies by means of aircraft, helicopters or fixed‑wing aircraft. The service is mainly operated by the Icelandic Coast Guard, the Civil Aviation Administration of Iceland and the Icelandic Air Force in cooperation with private ambulance and firefighting companies.

The concept of öndunarstoð has existed in Iceland since the early 1950s, when the first helicopter, a Sikorsky HH‑52A, was acquired. Since that time the fleet has expanded to include modern helicopters such as the Airbus H145 and the Eurocopter EC135, as well as fixed‑wing platforms for rapid response over sea or Arctic terrain. The system is integrated with the national emergency medical network, which allows a patient to be transported by air in minutes and then transferred to one of the seven university hospitals.

Operationally, öndunarstoð can be activated for medical evacuations, search and rescue, wildfire support and inland rescue. The service is staffed 24/7, with crew rotations covering the day, night and weekends. Each mission is coordinated through a central dispatch centre that is linked to local hospitals, forestry agencies and maritime authorities.

In addition to domestic operations, some Icelandic aircraft are deployed to assist in international missions, for example in the Nordic countries or in the Arctic region, where sparse populations and extreme weather conditions make the service especially valuable. The name has become a recognized symbol of Icelandic emergency preparedness and of the nation’s commitment to surviving its harsh environment.