Port Stanley Airport 2876882 224370368 2008-07-08T15:39:23Z Reedy 449918 [[User:Reedy/Airport Infobox Migration Plugin|Airport InfoBox Migration]] using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{Infobox Airport | name = Port Stanley Airport | nativename = | nativename-a = | nativename-r = | image = | image-width = | caption = | IATA = PSY | ICAO = SFAL | type = Public | owner = | operator = Falkland Islands Government | city-served = | location = Stanley, Falkland Islands | elevation-f = 75 | elevation-m = 23 | coordinates = {{Coord|51|41|08.42|S|57|46|39.52|W|type:airport|display=inline,title}} | website = | metric-elev = | metric-rwy = | r1-number = 09/27 | r1-length-f = 3013 | r1-length-m = 918 | r1-surface = Asphalt | r2-number = 18/36 | r2-length-f = 1110 | r2-length-m = 338 | r2-surface = Asphalt | stat-year = | stat1-header = | stat1-data = | stat2-header = | stat2-data = | footnotes = }} '''Port Stanley Airport''' {{airport codes|PSY|SFAL}} is a [[STOLport]] in the [[Falkland Islands]], two miles outside the capital, [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|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 Holdings|Falkland Islands Company]] decided to withdraw its monthly supply ship to [[Montevideo]], [[Uruguay]], increasing the desirability of an air link to the [[South America]]n mainland. In [[1971]], the [[Argentine Air Force]] broke the islands' isolation starting with amphibious flights from [[Comodoro Rivadavia]] with [[HU-16 Albatross|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 == [[Image:Stanley-Airport.JPG|thumb|270px|<small>Stanley Airport</small>]] 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 Pucará]]s with [[Argentine Navy]] [[Aermacchi MB-339]] and [[T-34 Mentor]] for [[close air support]] and [[air reconnaissance]] were based at the airport. The [[FMA IA 58 Pucará|Pucarás]] were deployed against the [[United Kingdom|British]] land forces, shooting down a [[Westland Scout]] and the Aermacchis against the [[Royal Navy|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 [[Harrier]]s. Through the conflict, the airport installations were attacked with 237 bombs, 1200 shells by detached [[Royal Navy]] ships and 16 missiles <ref> Commodore Ruben Oscar Moro ''La Guerra Inaudita'', 2000 ISBN 987-96007-3-8 </ref>. 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. <ref> [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1984/DWF.htm Offensive Air Operations Of The Falklands War - USMC]</ref> <ref>http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/vulcan.htm The Avro Vulcan and the Black Buck raids</ref>. 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. [[Port Stanley 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, Chile|Punta Arenas]] ([[Sandy Point]]) in [[Chile]]. [[LAN Airlines]] have weekly flights to Stanley from [[Carlos Ibanez Del Campo International Airport]] in Punta Arenas. == References == {{reflist}} == External links == * {{World-airport|SFAL}} ** {{WAD|SFAL}} {{Falkland Islands topics}} [[Category:Airports in the Falkland Islands]] [[Category:East Falkland]] [[de:Flughafen Port Stanley]]