Everything about Port Stanley Airport totally explained
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Port Stanley Airport is a
STOLport in the
Falkland Islands, two miles outside the capital,
Stanley. The airport is the only civilian airport in the Islands with a paved runway. The airport is operated by the Government of the Falkland Islands, and is used for internal flights between the Islands.
History
Prior to
1972, there was no airport in the Falkland Islands with a paved runway, and all trips to the Islands had to be undertaken by boat. However in the early 1970s, the
Falkland Islands Company decided to withdraw its monthly supply ship to
Montevideo,
Uruguay, increasing the desirability of an air link to the
South American mainland.
In
1971, the
Argentine Air Force broke the islands' isolation starting with amphibious flights from
Comodoro Rivadavia with
Grumman HU-16B Albatross aircraft operated by
LADE, Argentina's military airline.
In
1973, the United Kingdom signed a Communications Agreement with
Argentina to fund an airstrip on the islands. Flights took place again from
Comodoro Rivadavia, this time with
Fokker F-28 aircraft. This service was maintained until
1982 representing the only connection to the islands.
The
Royal Air Force also used the airport for flights to supply and reinforce the British military garrison when necessary.
Falklands War
During the
Falklands War of
1982, Argentine forces occupied the airport. The
Argentine Air Force were unable to place their most advanced fighter jets at the base given the relatively short runway, and the risk of attack by the British. However, several Air Force
FMA IA 58 Pucarás with
Argentine Navy Aermacchi MB-339 and
T-34 Mentor for
close air support and
air reconnaissance were based at the airport. The
Pucarás were deployed against the
British land forces, shooting down a
Westland Scout and the Aermacchis against the
British Fleet.
On
May 1,
1982, the
Royal Air Force started to bomb the airport in
Operation Black Buck and several other raids were carried out by embarked
Harriers. Through the conflict, the airport installations were attacked with 237 bombs, 1200 shells by detached
Royal Navy ships and 16 missiles . However, it was never out of action entirely.
C-130 Hercules,
Lockheed L-188 Electra and
Fokker F-28 transport night flights brought supplies, weapons, vehicles, and fuel, and airlifted out the wounded right until the end of the conflict. The Argentines would leave the runway covered with piles of dirt during the day causing British intelligence to surmise that repairs were still in progress. Craters were in fact heaps of earth placed there by the Argentines to make it look as though the runway was damaged. This deception misled the British as to the condition of the airfield and the success of their raids. .
After the war, the Royal Air Force took over the Airport, renaming it
RAF Stanley. The runway was extended and arrester equipment installed to allow RAF F4 Phantom fighters of 23 Sqn to be based on the Island as air defence. In addition long range Hercules transport aircraft were able to land supplies and personnel from the
United Kingdom via
Ascension Island.
In
1985,
RAF Mount Pleasant opened and in April
1986 Port Stanley Airport returned to civilian use.
Flights
The
Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) operates internal flights within the Falkland Islands from the Airport. The
British Antarctic Survey also uses the Airport.
Stanley Airport is used by internal flights and provides connections to British bases in
Antarctica. It was opened by the
Argentine Air Force on
November 15,
1972 (previously, international flights were by
seaplane from
Comodoro Rivadavia). In 2003 Argentine president
Néstor Kirchner ended all flights from Argentina to the Falklands Islands, since then most flights to the Falklands come from
Punta Arenas (
Sandy Point) in
Chile.
LAN Airlines have weekly flights to Stanley from
Carlos Ibanez Del Campo International Airport in Punta Arenas.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Port Stanley Airport'.
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