View source for Engineering:TF-SIF (IV)

{{Short description|Surveillance and rescue aircraft operated by the Icelandic Coast Guard}}
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{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
  |name = ''SIF''
  |image = Bombardier Dash 8-Q314, Iceland - Coast Guard JP7656625.jpg
  |caption = ''Sif'' in March 2013.
}}
{{Infobox Aircraft Career
  |sole example of type?= N
  |type                 = Bombardier Dash 8-Q-314
  |other names          = ''TF-SIF''<!--Other names (nicknames, nose art names) this aircraft is known by-->
  |manufacturer         = Bombardier 
  |construction number  = 660
  |construction date    = <!-- either roll-out date or span of time for lengthy projects, whichever seems more appropriate -->
  |civil registration   = TF-SIF<!-- any civil registrations carried by this aircraft -->
  |military serial      = 
  |radio code           = 
  |first flight         = <!-- date of first flight -->
  |owners               = Icelandic Coast Guard
  |in service           = 2009–present
  |flights              = <!-- number of flights made by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying -->
  |total hours          = <!-- total number of hours flown by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying -->
  |total distance       = <!-- total distance flown by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying -->
  |status               = In service <!-- fate/disposition of this aircraft -->
  |preservation         = 
}}
|}

'''''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 [[Religion:Æsir|goddess]] from Norse mythology and is the fourth Coast Guard aircraft to bear the name.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Skúli Á. Sigurðsson |title=TF-Sif byltir starfi Landhelgisgæslunnar |url=https://timarit.is/page/5259027 |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=15 July 2009 |pages=14, 36 |language=Icelandic |via=Tímarit.is}}{{open access}}</ref>

==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).<ref>{{cite news |author1=Dóra Ósk Halldórsdóttir |title=Fullkomin vél sem þurfti að leigja út |url=https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2023/02/03/fullkomin_vel_sem_thurfti_ad_leigja_ut/ |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=3 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Smíði gæsluvélarinnar gengið ævintýralega vel |url=https://www.visir.is/g/2009843017833/smidi-gaesluvelarinnar-gengid-aevintyralega-vel |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Vísir.is |date=3 April 2009 |language=Icelandic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Nýr verndarengill landhelginnar kominn heim |url=https://timarit.is/page/5256180 |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=2 July 2009 |page=1 |language=Icelandic |via=Tímarit.is}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Guðni Einarsson |author2=Halldór Armand Ásgeirsson |title=Þessi vél skiptir sköpum |url=https://timarit.is/page/5256185 |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=2 July 2009 |page=6 |language=Icelandic |via=Tímarit.is}} {{open access}}</ref> 

Due to budget cuts following the [[Finance:2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis|2008 Icelandic financial collapse]], ''Sif'' was frequently leased to Frontex to fly border control missions.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Andri Karl |title=Fundu ekki kaupanda |url=https://timarit.is/page/5264423 |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=10 October 2009 |page=6 |language=Icelandic |via=Tímarit.is}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Sigtryggur Sigtryggsson |title=TF-SIF erlendis í nærri þúsund daga |url=https://timarit.is/page/6964563 |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=13 January 2018 |page=28 |language=Icelandic |via=Tímarit.is}} {{open access}}</ref> 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.<ref name="storir-draumar">{{cite news |author1=Brynjólfur Þór Guðmundsson |title=Saga stórra drauma og mikilla vonbrigða |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2023-02-04-saga-storra-drauma-og-mikilla-vonbrigda |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=RÚV |date=4 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> During its Frontex mission in 2018, ''Sif'' participated in the rescue of 900 refugees during a span of month in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Bryndís Silja Pálmadóttir |title=Flugvél LHG bjargað 900 flóttamönnum |url=https://www.frettabladid.is/frettir/flugvel-lhg-bjarga-900-flottamoennum/ |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Fréttablaðið |date=26 October 2018 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> The following year, it participated in the rescue of 1,300 refugees during a three-month mission in the [[Place:Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Lovísa Arnardóttir |title=Áhöfn TF-SIF stuðlaði að björgun 1.300 flóttamanna |url=https://www.frettabladid.is/frettir/ahofn-tf-sif-studladi-ad-bjorgun-1300-flottamanna/ |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Fréttablaðið |date=21 October 2019 |language=Icelandic}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Arnar Þór Ingólfsson |title=Landhelgisgæslunni sagt að selja TF-SIF |url=https://heimildin.is/grein/16679/landhelgisgaeslunni-sagt-ad-selja-tf-sif/ |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Heimildin |date=1 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> The decision was highly critizised,<ref>{{cite news |author1=Pétur Magnússon |title=Mikil andstaða við ákvörðun Jóns um að selja TF-SIF |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2023-02-03-mikil-andstada-vid-akvordun-jons-um-ad-selja-tf-sif |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=RÚV |date=3 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> including by former Minister of Justice Björn Bjarnason,<ref>{{cite news |author1=Atli Steinn Guðmundsson |title=Höfum haldið úti þessari starfsemi í 70 ár |url=https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2023/02/02/hofum_haldid_uti_thessari_starfsemi_i_70_ar/ |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=2 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> the chief superintendent of the Office of the National Commissioner of the Police Víðir Reynisson,<ref>{{cite news |author1=Róbert Jóhannsson |title=Orðlaus og brugðið yfir fréttum af sölu á TF-SIF |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2023-02-02-ordlaus-og-brugdid-yfir-frettum-af-solu-a-tf-sif |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=RÚV |date=2 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> several members of Alþingi,<ref>{{cite news |title=Sameiginleg niðurstaða ráðuneytis og LHG |url=https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2023/02/02/sameiginleg_nidurstada_raduneytis_og_lhg/ |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=2 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Freyr Gígja Gunnarsson |title=Stjórnarandstaðan sagði sölu TF-SIF vega að þjóðaröryggi |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2023-02-03-stjornarandstadan-sagdi-solu-tf-sif-vega-ad-thjodaroryggi |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=RÚV |date=3 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vissi það einhver? |url=https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2023/02/02/vissi_thad_einhver/ |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=2 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> the Icelandic Meteorological Office and other emergency responders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Viðbragðsaðilar í áfalli |url=https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2023/02/02/vidbragdsadilar_i_afalli/ |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=2 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Ólöf Rún Erlendsdóttir |title=TF-SIF veitir verðmæta innsýn í hegðun eldgosa |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2023-02-02-tf-sif-veitir-verdmaeta-innsyn-i-hegdun-eldgosa |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=RÚV |date=2 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> On 3 February, Jón announced that the plans to sell ''Sif'' had been abandoned.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Haukur Holm |author2=Gunnhildur Kjerúlf Birgisdóttir |title=TF-SIF fer hvergi |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2023-02-03-tf-sif-fer-hvergi |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=RÚV |date=3 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Fanndís Birna Logadóttir |title=Við erum ákaflega þakklát og ánægð |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20232373626d/-vid-erum-akaflega-thakklat-og-anaegd- |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Vísir.is |date=4 February 2023 |language=Icelandic}}</ref>

==See also==
*List of aircraft of the Icelandic Coast Guard

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.lhg.is/um-okkur/taekjakostur/loftfor/nr/969 TF-SIF] at Icelandic Coast Guard

[[Category:Individual aircraft]]

{{Sourceattribution|TF-SIF (IV)|1}}