Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) is an airline

Airline

An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...

 based in Stanley

Stanley, Falkland Islands

Stanley is the capital and only true cityin the Falkland Islands. It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. At the 2006 census, the city had a population of 2,115...

, Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...

. It operates non-scheduled passenger services throughout the Falkland Islands. It also undertakes aerial surveillance of the exclusive economic zone surrounding the islands. Its main base is Port Stanley Airport

Port Stanley Airport

Port Stanley Airport is a STOLport in the Falkland Islands, two miles outside the capital, Stanley. The airport is the only civilian airport in the islands with a paved runway...

.

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

De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver

The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada, primarily known as a bush plane. It is used for cargo and passenger hauling, aerial application , and has been widely adopted by armed forces as a utility aircraft...

 float planes but in that year they bought the first of Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander

Britten-Norman Islander

The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...

 aircraft which now constitute the current fleet. This aircraft and all the Beaver aircraft were destroyed during the Falklands War

Falklands War

The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...

. After the war FIGAS initially carried out a helicopter service using a captured Argentine Bell UH1

UH-1 Iroquois

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...

 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

H-3 Sea King

The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is a twin-engined anti-submarine warfare helicopter. It served with the United States Navy and other forces, and continues to serve in many countries around the world. The Sea King has been built under license in Italy and Japan, and in the United Kingdom as the...

 helicopters operated by the British International (BRINTEL)

British International Helicopters

British International Helicopter Services Limited is an airline based at Penzance heliport, in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, with headquarters located at Sherborne, Dorset. It operates seasonal and year round domestic scheduled services to the Isles of Scilly. Its main base is Penzance...

 company for the MOD

Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)

The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....

, 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

Pebble Island

Pebble Island is one of the Falkland Islands, lying north of West Falkland.The island stretches about 19 miles from east to west and is about 4.3 miles at its widest point, with a total area of  square miles .It has three high points: First Mountain , Middle Mountain and...

 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
  Britten-Norman Islander
  The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
  
   (three in passenger configuration and two used for maritime patrol)

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.