Editing Transport in the Falkland Islands

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
The [[Falkland Islands]] currently have three primary means of transport - road, sea and air. However, in 1946, when Sir Miles Clifford arrived as governor, there were no air services, no roads outside [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]] and an indifferent sea service. Sir Miles was instrumental in starting the [[Falkland Islands Government Air Service]] in December 1948. The inaugural flight involved a mercy flight from [[North Arm Settlement]] to Stanley to bring a girl with [[peritonitis]] to life-saving medical help in Stanley.<ref name=history>{{cite journal
 |url         = http://www.falklands.info/history/histarticle20.html
 |title       = Pioneer Air Service Celebrates 50 Years
 |author      = Harold W. Briley
 |journal     = Falkland Islands Newsletter
 |issue       = 73
 |date        = October 1998
 |access-date  = 2010-07-23
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20101122055907/http://falklands.info/history/histarticle20.html
 |archive-date = 22 November 2010
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> There is now an international [[airports|airport]], a domestic airport, a number of airstrips, a growing road network and a much-improved ferry service between the two main islands.

==Road==
[[File:Falkland Islands road.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Typical Falkland Islands road]]
In 1982, the Falkland Islands had no roads outside Stanley, only tracks.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.falklands.gov.fk/documents/Falklands%20Focus%20Issue%2081,%20July%2007.pdf
 |title       = Falkland Focus - News from the Falkland Islands Government
 |date        = July–August 2007
 |access-date  = 2010-12-29
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120308122026/http://www.falklands.gov.fk/documents/Falklands%20Focus%20Issue%2081,%20July%2007.pdf
 |archive-date = 8 March 2012
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> By 2007, the Falkland Islands had a road network of {{convert|786|km|order=flip}} with a further roads planned for construction link to all occupied [[List of settlements in the Falkland Islands|mainland settlements]] by 2013.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.falklands.gov.fk/Transport_&_Communication.html#
 |title       = Transport and Communication
 |publisher   = Falkland Islands Government
 |access-date  = 2010-07-18
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20101216190536/http://www.falklands.gov.fk/Transport_%26_Communication.html
 |archive-date = 16 December 2010
 |df          = dmy-all
}} ''Source uses metric units.''</ref> In 2012, the Falkland Islands Government classified the {{convert|862|km|order=flip}} road network - East Falkland {{convert|489|km|order=flip}} and West Falkland {{convert|373|km|order=flip}} - into "A" roads, "B" roads and "C" roads for purposes of ''Highways Asset Management Plan''. The "A" roads are the {{convert|121|km|order=flip}} link between [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]] and [[New Haven, Falkland Islands|New Haven]] ([[East Falkland]]) and the {{convert|78|km|order=flip}} link between [[Port Howard]] and [[Fox Bay]] ([[West Falkland]]).<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = Priorities for Roads Maintenance, Increased Funding for Grading, Capping and for Surfacing the MPA Road
 |url         = http://www.falklands.gov.fk/assembly/documents/39-12P.pdf
 |date        = 25 April 2012
 |publisher   = Falkland Islands Executive Council
 |access-date  = 16 August 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121104082955/http://www.falklands.gov.fk/assembly/documents/39-12P.pdf
 |archive-date = 4 November 2012
 |df          = dmy-all
}}
''Source uses metric units.''</ref>
All roads within Stanley are asphalted as are the ones at [[RAF Mount Pleasant|Mount Pleasant Airport (MPA).]] The road between Stanley and MPA is mostly gravel all-weather roads (as like the rest of the roads in the islands) with some short asphalted sections.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.travellerspoint.com/guide/Falkland_Islands/
|title = Falkland Islands
|publisher = Travellerspoint Travel Community
|access-date = 2010-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Falkland Islands - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki|url = http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Falkland_Islands|website = www.sabre-roads.org.uk|access-date = 2015-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Windswept, remote...who would want to live in the Falkland Islands?|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/windswept-remotewho-would-want-to-live-in-the-falkland-islands-8577203.html|website = The Independent|date = 20 April 2013|access-date = 2015-10-18|language = en}}</ref> The road between Stanley and MPA has a large trench on either side, which will ground any vehicle driving into it. These trenches were allegedly dug deeper than they needed to be as annual rainfall was taken as a number for the monthly rainfall.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Razor's Edge - The Unofficial History of the Falklands War|last = Bicheno|first = Hugh|publisher = Weidenfeld & Nicolson|year = 2006|isbn = 978-0-7538-2186-2|pages = 337, 338}}</ref>

Stanley has two taxi services which can be used for travel within the town and the surrounding areas. A variety of four-wheel drive vehicles can be hired in Stanley, which are essential for travel along unpaved roads that are potentially badly potholed.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.falklandislands.com/contents/view/23/get-here/get-around/vehicle-hire
|publisher = Falkland Islands Tourist Board
|title = Vehicle hire
|access-date = 2010-07-03}}</ref><ref name = MoD>{{cite web
|url = https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/36989/20121108-Pre_Arrivals_Pack-U.pdf
|title= British Forces South Atlantic Islands Families Pre-arrival Pack
|publisher = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
|date = November 2012
|access-date = 22 February 2013}}</ref>
A bus service ferries passengers between the main airport for international flights at Mount Pleasant and Stanley.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.falklandislands.com/contents/view/117/get-here/get-around/bus-and-taxi
|publisher = Falkland Islands Tourist Board
|title = Bus and taxi
|access-date = 2010-07-03}}</ref>
Bicycles can also be hired, though because of the unsealed roads and hilly terrain, these are more suitable for use around the Stanley area.<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.falklandislands.com/contents/view/283/get-here/get-around/bicycle-hire
|title= Bicycle Hire
|work=web page
|publisher=Falkland Islands Tourist Board
|access-date=2010-07-24}}</ref>

Speed limits are 25&nbsp;mph (40&nbsp;km/h) in built-up areas and 40&nbsp;mph (64&nbsp;km/h) elsewhere.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.falklandislands.com/assets/documents/falklands-factsheet.pdf
 |title       = The Falkland Islands
 |publisher   = Falkland Islands Tourist Board
 |access-date  = 19 May 2010
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110710223934/http://www.falklandislands.com/assets/documents/falklands-factsheet.pdf
 |archive-date = 10 July 2011
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

==Sea==
[[File:Stanley-Harbour.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Stanley Harbour]]
There are two [[seaport]]s in the Falkland Islands, Stanley (East Falkland) and [[Fox Bay]] (West Falkland). Additionally, [[Military of the Falkland Islands|British forces in the islands]] use a port facility at [[Mare Harbour]].  The designated harbours in Stanley area include [[Berkeley Sound]], [[Port William, Falkland Islands|Port William]] and Stanley Harbour itself.<ref>[http://www.falklandislands.com/assets/documents/2010-harbour-info-basic.pdf Falkland Islands Ports & Harbours: Information – 2010.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122085736/http://www.falklandislands.com/assets/documents/2010-harbour-info-basic.pdf |date=22 November 2010 }}</ref>  Fox Bay is also a customs entry point for [[West Falkland]].  In 2020 the government awarded a contract to [[BAM Nuttall]] to design and build a new port for the Falklands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McShane |first=Alex |date=2021 |title=New Port for the Falkland Islands |url=https://www.falklands.gov.fk/commercialservices/capital-projects/new-port-development |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Falklands Islands Government, Development and Commercial Services, Capital Projects |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McShane |first=Alex |date=2021-09-14 |title=New Port Press Releases |url=https://www.falklands.gov.fk/commercialservices/capital-projects/new-port-development/port-press-releases |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Falklands Islands Government |language=en-gb}}</ref> The Falkland Islands do not have a [[merchant navy]].

Since November 2008, a regular ferry service has linked the two main islands, carrying cars, passengers and cargo. The ferry, ''[[MV Concordia Bay]]'', a 42.45&nbsp;m twin-screw shallow draft (2.59&nbsp;m) landing craft<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.holyheadtowing.co.uk/vessels/concordia-bay/
|title = Concordia Bay
|publisher = Holyhead Towing Company Ltd
|year = 2010
|access-date = 2010-12-29}}</ref> runs between [[Port Howard]] in [[West Falkland]] and [[New Haven, Falkland Islands|New Haven]] in [[East Falkland]].<ref name=iguide>{{cite web
|url = http://iguide.travel/Falkland_Islands/Getting_Around/By_boat
|title = Getting Around Falkland Islands: By boat
|work = Falkland Islands Travel Guide
|publisher = iGuide: Interactive Travel Guide
|access-date = 2010-07-23}}</ref>  She has a deck, 30&nbsp;m in length and 10&nbsp;m in width which is sufficient for 16 one-ten [[Land Rover]]s (or equivalent) and accommodation for 30 passengers.  She also has a crane that is capable of lifting 10 tonnes at 7&nbsp;m. She also visits some of the smaller islands.

Other smaller boats may be chartered in advance.

Tourist cruise ships often visit many of the islands, making use of [[inflatable boat]]s where adequate docking facilities are not available.<ref name=iguide/>

==Rail==
A {{convert|2|ft|mm|adj=on}} gauge railway, known as the [[Camber Railway]], was built along the north side of [[Stanley Harbour]] in 1915-1916 and used until the 1920s. It was about {{convert|3.5|mi|km}} long. The trackbed is still visible.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.britlink.org/camber.html
 |access-date  = 2010-10-22
 |title       = The Camber Railway, Falkland Islands
 |date        = 2010-10-18
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110326063910/http://www.britlink.org/camber.html
 |archive-date = 26 March 2011
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

==Air==
[[File:Islander.JPG|thumb|250px|right|BN-2B Islander [[Aircraft registration|VP-FBD]] operated by the [[Falkland Islands Government Air Service]], [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]], 1994]]
The Falkland Islands have two airports with paved runways. The main international airport is [[RAF Mount Pleasant]], {{convert|27|mi}} west of Stanley.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mapcrow.info/Distance_between_London_UK_and_Port_Stanley_FK.html
|title= Map Crow Travel Distance Calculator
|publisher=Mapcrow.info
|date=23 October 2007
|access-date=24 July 2010}}
''43.28&nbsp;km in source.''
</ref>
[[LATAM|LATAM Airlines]] operate weekly flights to [[Punta Arenas]]. Once a month, this flight also stops in [[Río Gallegos]], Argentina.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.falklandislands.com/contents/view/24/get-here/getting-here-by-air
|title=Official Tourism Website of the Falkland Islands
|publisher=Falkland Islands Tourist Board
|access-date=10 March 2011}}
</ref>

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]]. This service is called the South Atlantic Airbridge.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Getting to the Falkland Islands {{!}} Falkland Islands Government|url=https://www.falklands.gov.fk/more-information/getting-here/|access-date=2021-11-23|website=www.falklands.gov.fk}}</ref>

[[Bristow Helicopters]] also operate two [[Sikorsky S-92]] helicopters, based at RAF Mount Pleasant, under contract to the United Kingdom [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]], primarily for moving military personnel, equipment and supplies around the islands. Additionally, two [[AgustaWestland AW189]] helicopters are operated from RAF Mount Pleasant by [[AAR Corp]] and Bristow in the search and rescue role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aarcorp.com/aar-awarded-10-year-search--rescue-contract-in-the-falkland-islands-by-uk-mod/|title=AAR Awarded 10-Year Search & Rescue Contract in the Falkland Islands by UK MOD – General News – News – AAR Corporate|work=aarcorp.com|access-date=26 September 2015|archive-date=27 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927224616/http://www.aarcorp.com/aar-awarded-10-year-search--rescue-contract-in-the-falkland-islands-by-uk-mod/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:2635-sea-lion-figas-plane RJ.jpg|thumb|left|A Britten-Norman Islander owned by FIGAS touching down at a landing strip on [[Sea Lion Island]]]]
The smaller [[Port Stanley Airport]], outside the city, is used mainly for internal flights. The [[Falkland Islands Government Air Service]] (FIGAS) operates [[Britten-Norman Islander|Islander]] aircraft that can use the grass airstrips that most settlements have. Flight schedules are decided a day in advance according to passenger needs and the next day's timetable is published every evening. The schedules are based on three routes - a Northern Shuttle and the Southern Shuttle that each have one flight a day and the East - West Shuttle that has a morning and an evening flight every day.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.falklandislands.com/contents/view/116/get-here/get-around/internal-flights-figas
|title = Internal Flights (FIGAS)
|work = Getting Around the Falkland Islands
|publisher = Falkland Islands Tourist Board
|access-date=2010-07-23}}</ref>

The [[British Antarctic Survey]] operates a transcontinental air link between Port Stanley Airport and the [[Rothera Research Station]] on the [[Antarctic Peninsula]] and servicing also other British bases in the [[British Antarctic Territory]] using a [[de Havilland Canada Dash 7]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/aircraft_and_vehicles/aircraft/index.php
 |title       = Aircraft in Antarctica
 |publisher   = British Antarctic Survey
 |access-date  = 9 July 2012
 |year        = 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080129092148/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/aircraft_and_vehicles/aircraft/index.php
 |archive-date = 29 January 2008
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Transport in the Falkland Islands|'''Transport in the Falkland Islands'''}}
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[[Category:Transport in the Falkland Islands| ]]