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🇮🇸 Iceland /Elections & Politics

Icelandic lawmaker proposes permanent helicopter base in Akureyri for national security

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • A proposal is being put forward to permanently station one of the Icelandic Coast Guard's helicopters in Akureyri.
  • Proponents argue this would enhance safety and response times for the entire country, not just the north.
  • The move is also framed as strengthening Iceland's national security and meeting NATO commitments.

A proposal to permanently base one of the Icelandic Coast Guard's helicopters at Akureyri Airport is gaining traction, with proponents arguing it is a long-overdue measure for national security. Njáll Trausti Friðbertsson, a member of the Independence Party representing Northeast Iceland, is a key advocate for the initiative.

"A helicopter in Akureyri is a safety matter for the entire country," Friðbertsson stated. He has co-sponsored a parliamentary resolution urging the Minister of Justice to establish a permanent base for a Coast Guard helicopter in Akureyri. The argument centers on Akureyri's central location, existing air ambulance infrastructure, and available expertise and facilities.

Having helicopters stationed in both Reykjavík and Akureyri would significantly improve response capabilities, enabling coverage of all regions within 90 minutes under normal conditions. This would particularly bolster search and rescue operations in the waters north and east of Iceland.

Friðbertsson, who previously worked as an air traffic controller in Akureyri, emphasizes that basing a helicopter in the north is crucial for risk distribution, benefiting the entire nation. He argues it is unwise to concentrate all national helicopters in a single location or weather zone. The Icelandic Coast Guard is responsible for a vast maritime area of approximately 1.9 million square kilometers.

The proposal also aligns with Iceland's defense commitments to NATO, which aim to increase defense spending to 1.5% of GDP by 2035. Friðbertsson points out that before the U.S. Navy departed Keflavík in 2006, five rescue helicopters were based there. He believes strengthening the Coast Guard's helicopter capacity, including a base in Akureyri, fits within these broader security objectives and serves the Icelandic community.

Þyrla á Akureyri er öryggismál fyrir allt landið. Það er löngu tímabært að ein af þyrlum Landhelgisgæslunnar verði staðsett á Akureyri

— Njáll Trausti FriðbertssonExplaining the importance of basing a helicopter in Akureyri for national safety.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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