Falkland Islands Government Air Service

Infobox Airline
airline = Falkland Islands Government Air Service
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fleet_size = 5
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key_people = Shaun Minto (General Manager) [ [http://www.stuff.co.nz/4413255a11.html Kiwi takes over Falkland Islands Air service - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz ] ]
hubs = Port Stanley
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Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) is an airline based in Stanley, Falkland Islands. It operates non-scheduled passenger services throughout the Falkland Islands. It also undertakes aerial surveillance of the economic exclusion zone surrounding the islands. Its main base is Port Stanley Airport.Flight International 3 April 2007]

History

The airline was established in 1948 and started operations on 24 December 1948. It was formed to provide medical and mail services to outlying farming communities. Prior to 1981 the airline used de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver float planes but in that year they bought the first of Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft which now constitute the current fleet. This aircraft and all the Beaver aircraft were destroyed during the Falklands War. After the war FIGAS initially carried out a helicopter service using a captured Argentine Bell UH1 painted in FIGAS colours, however damage was discovered to the airframe and the service stopped soon after. The fleet of aircraft was then built up to its current level of 6 aircraft over a period of years during the 1980s.

It is a vital link to the more remote settlements delivering post, vital goods, and moving people. Less vital items can be delivered by the coastal resupply vessel. Other than the Sikorsky S61N helicopters operated by the British International (BRINTEL) company for the MOD, FIGAS is the only fast link around the islands. Details of who's flying where and at what time are announced on local radio the night before the flight date. Though almost all the settlements they fly to now have grass airstrips, on Pebble Island the aircraft still sometimes land on the sand beach.

Fleet

The FIGAS fleet consists of the following aircraft (at March 2007) :

*5 Britten-Norman BN2B Islander

Registrations and configurations:

*VP-FBD - Passenger configuration
*VP-FBM - Passenger configuration
*VP-FBR - Passenger configuration
*VP-FBO - Maritime patrol
*VP-FBN - Maritime patrol

Two of the aircraft are on fisheries patrol, three are being used for the transport of goods or passengers around the islands. At any one time, one of the five is being serviced.Fact|date=May 2007

Although all the aircraft are maintained to the highest levels by the FIGAS maintenance department at Stanley Airport, the three passenger aircraft are considered to be approaching the end of their service lives. The subject of their replacement with newer airframes, is currently being considered by the Falkland Islands Government.

References