TF-SIF (Dash 8)

Sif, also known as TF-SIF, is a Bombardier Dash 8-Q-314 turboprop-powered surveillance and rescue aircraft operated by the Icelandic Coast Guard since 2009. It is named after Sif, the golden-haired goddess from Norse mythology and is the fourth Coast Guard aircraft to bear the name.[1]

SIF
Sif in March 2013.
Other name(s) TF-SIF
Type Bombardier Dash 8-Q-314
Manufacturer Bombardier
Construction number 660
Registration TF-SIF
Owners and operators Icelandic Coast Guard
In service 2009–present
Status In service

History

In early 2005, the Icelandic government decided to purchase a new aircraft for the Coast Guard to replace the almost 30-year old Syn, a Fokker F27 Friendship 200, in collaboration with the Swedish government which was in need of similar aircraft. Its purchase price was 4.3 billion ISK (32 million USD).[2] Four years later, in July 2009, Sif arrived and was considered one of the most technological advanced aircraft of her kind that was used for civilian tasks such as search, surveillance and rescue.[3][4][5]

Due to budget cuts following the 2008 Icelandic financial collapse, Sif was frequently leased to Frontex to fly border control missions.[6][7] In 2010, Sif spent more than half the year on projects abroad, almost all of 2011 and more than five months in 2012. In the first years after the financial crash, the Coast Guard received a quarter of its income from abroad for leasing Sif and other assets. Despite improved economic situations, Sif was leased abroad every year through 2022, from just over a month to half a year.[8] During its Frontex mission in 2018, Sif participated in the rescue of 900 refugees during a span of month in 2018.[9] The following year, it participated in the rescue of 1,300 refugees during a three-month mission in the Mediterranean Sea.[10]

In 2023, Jón Gunnarsson, the Minister of Justice, announced that the aircraft would be sold as the Coast Guard did not have the necessary funds to operate it.[11] The decision was highly critizised,[12] including by former Minister of Justice Björn Bjarnason,[13] the chief superintendent of the Office of the National Commissioner of the Police Víðir Reynisson,[14] several members of Alþingi,[15][16][17] the Icelandic Meteorological Office and other emergency responders.[18][19] On 3 February, Jón announced that the plans to sell Sif had been abandoned.[20][21]

See also

References
  1. Skúli Á. Sigurðsson (15 July 2009). "TF-Sif byltir starfi Landhelgisgæslunnar". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). pp. 14, 36. Retrieved 4 February 2023 – via Tímarit.is.open access
  2. Dóra Ósk Halldórsdóttir (3 February 2023). "Fullkomin vél sem þurfti að leigja út". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  3. "Smíði gæsluvélarinnar gengið ævintýralega vel". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). 3 April 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  4. "Nýr verndarengill landhelginnar kominn heim". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 July 2009. p. 1. Retrieved 4 February 2023 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  5. Guðni Einarsson; Halldór Armand Ásgeirsson (2 July 2009). "Þessi vél skiptir sköpum". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). p. 6. Retrieved 4 February 2023 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  6. Andri Karl (10 October 2009). "Fundu ekki kaupanda". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). p. 6. Retrieved 4 February 2023 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  7. Sigtryggur Sigtryggsson (13 January 2018). "TF-SIF erlendis í nærri þúsund daga". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). p. 28. Retrieved 4 February 2023 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  8. Brynjólfur Þór Guðmundsson (4 February 2023). "Saga stórra drauma og mikilla vonbrigða". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  9. Bryndís Silja Pálmadóttir (26 October 2018). "Flugvél LHG bjargað 900 flóttamönnum". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  10. Lovísa Arnardóttir (21 October 2019). "Áhöfn TF-SIF stuðlaði að björgun 1.300 flóttamanna". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  11. Arnar Þór Ingólfsson (1 February 2023). "Landhelgisgæslunni sagt að selja TF-SIF". Heimildin (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  12. Pétur Magnússon (3 February 2023). "Mikil andstaða við ákvörðun Jóns um að selja TF-SIF". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  13. Atli Steinn Guðmundsson (2 February 2023). "Höfum haldið úti þessari starfsemi í 70 ár". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  14. Róbert Jóhannsson (2 February 2023). "Orðlaus og brugðið yfir fréttum af sölu á TF-SIF". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  15. "Sameiginleg niðurstaða ráðuneytis og LHG". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  16. Freyr Gígja Gunnarsson (3 February 2023). "Stjórnarandstaðan sagði sölu TF-SIF vega að þjóðaröryggi". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  17. "Vissi það einhver?". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  18. "Viðbragðsaðilar í áfalli". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  19. Ólöf Rún Erlendsdóttir (2 February 2023). "TF-SIF veitir verðmæta innsýn í hegðun eldgosa". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  20. Haukur Holm; Gunnhildur Kjerúlf Birgisdóttir (3 February 2023). "TF-SIF fer hvergi". RÚV. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  21. Fanndís Birna Logadóttir (4 February 2023). "Við erum ákaflega þakklát og ánægð". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
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