Transport
In 1982, the Falkland Islands had no roads outside Stanley, only tracks. By 2007, the Falkland Islands had a road network of 488 miles (786 km) which in 2012 had been extended to 536 miles (862 km) linking to all occupied mainland settlements. Speed limits are 25 mph (40 km/h) in built-up areas and 40 mph (64 km/h) elsewhere. As of 2006, the Falkland Islands had 67 motor vehicles per 100 people, with 4x4 vehicles accounting for 66% of the total.
The Falkland Islands have two airports with paved runways – the main international airport RAF Mount Pleasant, 43 kilometres (27 mi) west of Stanley. opened in 1986 and the smaller Port Stanley Airport on the outskirts of Stanley, opened in 1979 following the 1971 Anglo-Argentine agreement regarding an air link between the countries. Mount Pleasant is used for military purposes and for heavy aircraft that require long runways, whereas Stanley is used for internal flights and smaller aircraft.
The Royal Air Force operates flights from RAF Mount Pleasant to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England, with a refuelling stop at RAF Ascension Island. RAF flights are on TriStars although charter aircraft are often used if the TriStars are required for operational flights. Local military air support – moving of personnel, equipment and supplies around the islands is carried out under contract by British International (BRINTEL) which operates two Sikorsky S61N helicopters. The principal civilian air operator at Mount Pleasant is LAN Airlines which operates weekly flights to Santiago, Chile via Punta Arenas.
The main operator at Port Stanley Airport is the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) which operates Islander aircraft which can use the grass airstrips at most settlements. Flight schedules, which are broadcast on the radio every evening, are planned on a daily basis according to passenger needs. Private operators from Stanley include the British Antarctic Survey who operate an air link to the Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula and also serve other British bases in the British Antarctic Territory using a de Havilland Canada Dash 7.
Read more about this topic: Falkland Islands, Infrastructure
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