The beaches surrounding Port Stanley Airport remained heavily mined long after the war as demining had been deemed impractical due to the constantly drifting sand dunes and the disruption that would be done to the breeding colonies of the threatened Magellanic penguin, which continued to thrive on the beaches (being too light to set off the mines). However, these minefields proved unnecessary when the British opted instead to land at San Carlos on the west coast of East Falkland and attack overland towards Stanley. ĭuring the war the Argentines also heavily mined Yorke Bay to the north of the airport and Surf/Rookery Bays to the southeast with minimum metal mines under the presumption the British would attempt an amphibious landing on the east coast of East Falkland to quickly recapture both the airfield and Stanley in one fell swoop. In fact, the British were well aware that C-130 flights continued to use the airfield and attempted to interdict these flights leading to the loss of a C-130 on 1 June, which was not, however, engaged in any resupply mission. The Argentines left the runway covered with piles of earth during the day, in an attempt to mislead the British regarding the condition of the airfield. These flights continued to bring supplies, weapons, vehicles, and fuel, and airlift out the wounded right until the end of the conflict. However, none of these attacks ever put the airfield out of action entirely, and even both Black Buck raids only managed to score one direct hit on the runway, which was repaired sufficiently to allow for C-130 Hercules, Lockheed L-188 Electra and Fokker F-28 transport aircraft to resume night supply flights within 48 hours. The 42 1,000-lb bombs dropped by the two Black Buck missions left twin strings of craters which are still visible on satellite photos of the airport today. Through the conflict, the airport installations were attacked with 237 bombs, 1,200 shells by deployed Royal Navy ships and 16 missiles. On, the Royal Air Force bombed the airport in Operation Black Buck and several other raids were carried out by embarked Harriers. The Pucarás were deployed against the British land forces, shooting down a Westland Scout and the Aermacchis against the British Fleet. 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 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. It immediately became home to the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) with its Islanders and Beavers.ĭuring the Falklands War of 1982, Argentine forces occupied the airport. By this time however a permanent solution was in hand and on a new airport was opened at Cape Pembroke by Sir Vivian Fuchs with a 4,000-foot (1,200 m) paved runway. This situation continued until 1978, when a storm tore up large areas of the runway, rendering it unusable. At first, these flights landed at a temporary airstrip at Hookers Point at the east end of Port Stanley where the runway was constructed of Pierced Runway Planking. This service was maintained until 1982 representing the only connection to the islands. Flights took place again from Comodoro Rivadavia, this time with Fokker F-28 twin jet aircraft. In 1973, the United Kingdom signed a Communications Agreement with Argentina to fund an airstrip on the islands. 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. 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. 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. History Map showing the airport and surrounding area Port Stanley Airport is operated by the Government of the Falkland Islands, and is used for internal flights between the islands and flights between the Falklands and Antarctica. However, RAF Mount Pleasant, located to the west of Stanley, functions as the islands' main international airport, because it has a long runway and allows civilian flights. The airport is the only civilian airport in the islands with a paved runway. Port Stanley Airport ( IATA: PSY, ICAO: SFAL) is an airport in the Falkland Islands, two miles (3 kilometres) outside the capital, Stanley.
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