Distance & access
Remote communities, long road journeys and challenging terrain make access to advanced care a central consideration.
A charity in development / For Iceland
For a safer Iceland
Helicopter emergency care
for a better society.
We are developing a charity to raise funds for operating air ambulance helicopters in Iceland. With the support of our community, we aim to bring specialist emergency care closer to people.
Explore the missionProject in developmentAW169 HEMS · AI-generated concept illustration
01 / Our mission
Charitable purpose.
Life-saving ambition.
Where you are should not define the care you can reach.
Antonson is a project to establish a charity working toward a dedicated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for Iceland. Raising funds to operate air ambulance helicopters will be at the heart of its work.
Through contributions from individuals, businesses and other supporters, we aim to build a sustainable funding base for the service. Our goal is to shorten the distance between a time-critical emergency and specialist care, with a service designed for Icelandic conditions.
02 / The case for dedicated HEMS
An extraordinary landscape.
A distinct set of needs.
A dedicated service must be shaped by the place it serves. For Iceland, that means planning for distance, difficult access and changing conditions.
Time-critical care
Dedicated HEMS aims to bring medical expertise to the patient and support timely transport to appropriate hospital care.
A coordinated response
The ambition is a service developed to work alongside Iceland’s emergency response and healthcare systems, with clear roles and a shared focus on patients.
From the scene to the hospital
A shorter journey.
Closer to specialist care.
An important objective in developing the service is for the air ambulances to be able to land at Landspítali’s helipad. This would help shorten the transfer from the landing site to specialist care and reduce the need for onward transport by road.
Helipad access and coordination with the hospital’s receiving teams need to be part of the planning, in consultation with the relevant parties and subject to the necessary permissions and safety requirements.
03 / Our approach
Readiness starts
with principles.
Four priorities guide the service we are working to develop.
Rapid response
Plan around efficient activation and reaching patients when time matters, with safety at the centre of every decision.
Advanced medical care
Build toward specialist clinical teams, appropriate equipment and a patient-centred approach from the scene to the hospital.
Aviation capability
Develop an aviation concept suited to Iceland, with rigorous safety standards, trained crews and clearly defined operating limits.
24/7 readiness
Work toward round-the-clock readiness as an operational objective, subject to the staffing, infrastructure and approvals required. Every flight would remain subject to safe operating conditions.
04 / Developed for Iceland
The conditions define
the approach.
Coastlines and highlands. Remote roads and scattered communities. Short winter days and rapidly changing weather.
These are fundamental planning considerations. Antonson’s development must account for them — from aircraft and equipment to crew training, operating bases and coordination with existing services.
Icelandic conditions. A dedicated perspective.
05 / Support and collaboration
Together, we can build
a life-saving service.
Antonson is in the early stages of development. One of our most important steps now is to understand the level of interest in the project and build a community of individuals, professionals, companies and organisations who want to follow its development or contribute to it.
We want to hear from people who want to see a strong helicopter emergency medical service developed in Iceland, whether their interest is in collaboration, professional expertise, volunteering, future support, or simply following the project's progress.
Would you like to follow the project or get involved?
Sign up below and tell us about your connection to the project. Signing up does not involve any commitment, it helps us understand where the interest lies and stay in touch with those who want to follow Antonson's next steps.
Antonson is a project in development and is not an operational emergency service. This website cannot receive emergency requests.