Port Stanley Airport

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Port Stanley Airport
IATA: PSY - ICAO: SFAL
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Falkland Islands Government
Serves		Stanley, Falkland Islands
Elevation AMSL		75 ft (23 m)
Coordinates		51°41′08.42″S, 57°46′39.52″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
09/27	3013	918	Asphalt
18/36	1110	338	Asphalt

Port Stanley Airport (IATA: PSY, ICAO: SFAL) is an airport 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.

1 History
2 Falklands War
3 Flights
4 External links

[edit] History

Prior to 1972, there was no airport in the Falkland Islands with a paved runway, and all trips to the Islands required 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 airlink 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 airliner.

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 now with Fokker F-28. 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.

[edit] 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 Argentine 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, and nightly supply flights by C-130 Hercules, Lockheed L-188 Electra and Fokker F-28 transports took place until the last day. 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 bombed the airport in Operation Black Buck. Several other raids were carried out by Harriers from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Hermes. The Airport installations were badly damaged by the fighting, although Argentine forces continued flights up to their surrender on June 14. At the end of the war, the Airport was littered with the wreckage of Argentine aircraft.

After the war, the Royal Air Force took over the Airport, renaming it RAF Stanley. The runway was extended to allow RAF Phantom fighters to be based on the Island as air defence, and also allow long range Hercules transport planes to land supplies and personnel from the United Kingdom via Ascension Island.

In 1985, RAF Mount Pleasant opened and Port Stanley Airport returned to civilian use.

[edit] 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.