Air Greenland is Greenland's national airline, established in 1960, that provides domestic and international passenger flights, charter services, and tourism packages. It is a full-service airline that operates a network of airports and heliports throughout Greenland and offers services to destinations in Denmark, Iceland, and Canada. The Air Greenland Group also includes travel and hotel services, and the company is 100% owned by the Greenland Self-Government. 

Air Greenland has operated Search and Rescue missions for more than 50 years.

The service began in the early years with the company's Sikorsky S-61 helicopters being used for rescues as needed, often without a formal agreement, and today operates with state-of-the-art equipment, including the EC225 LP and the EC155.

Air Greenland's Search and Rescue (SAR) operations are paid for by the Danish Ministry of Defence (Forsvaret), which has a long-standing agreement with Air Greenland for this service.

This funding is part of the Danish state's responsibility for SAR operations in Greenland and covers the operational costs of the helicopters used for emergency response, medical evacuations, and search missions.

Air Greenland SAR handles a wide variety of missions.We perform hoist operations on land, at sea, and on the Greenland Ice Sheet, as well as search and rescue missions ranging from simple to highly complex.
SAR is also used for patient transports for the healthcare system and supports police operations, primarily in towns and settlements where no runway is available.
All hoist operators must pass an annual physical test, which is also available here on the website.