75th Anniversary of the Falkland Islands Government Air Service

75th Anniversary of The Falkland Islands Government Air Service

The Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) was established in November 1948 with the arrival of two Auster aircraft to provide the community with an air ambulance service.

The first flight, a post assembly flight check, was performed on 19 December of that year. The first air ambulance flight took place six days later on Christmas Eve when a young girl, Sandra Short, was airlifted to hospital in Stanley. The aircraft used for the flight was an Auster, Mk.5, registration G-AJCH piloted by Vic Spencer.

In 1950 the Auster aircraft were supplemented by a Noorduyn Norseman float equipped aircraft to provide increased capacity enabling the air service to begin passenger services on a more regular basis. By 1953, the Auster and Norseman aircraft had been replaced by DH Canadian Beaver aircraft, also on floats.

A review of the air service was carried out in 1977 which initiated a move from floats to wheels in an attempt to mitigate against salt water corrosion which is the scourge of float plane operators.

The aircraft selected to replace the DHC Beaver was the Britten-Norman BN2 Islander aircraft; the first Islander, registration VP-FAY arrived in the Falkland Islands on 4 October 1979 after a long ferry flight from the United Kingdom across the North Atlantic, down the Americas and on to the Falklands.

The 1982 war and inclement weather destroyed the existing FIGAS fleet effectively stopping operations for a period. The 1982 war claimed two of the fleet; Islander aircraft VP-FAY was destroyed at Stanley Airport during a bombing raid and one of the Beaver aircraft was wrecked by naval gunfire; the remaining beaver was blown over during a strong gale and declared a write-off.

FIGAS operations recommenced in January 1983 with a second-hand float-equipped DHC Beaver and further strengthened by the arrival of two new BN2 Islander aircraft.

The Islands relationship with the Beaver aircraft finally ended in January 1985 when it was withdrawn from use, dismantled and shipped to the UK for storage, eventually being sold to a customer in Canada. FIGAS continue to operate BN2 Islanders across the archipelago providing the community with an essential communications network.

In recent years the fleet have been upgraded with modern digital cockpits, autopilots, satellite tracking and new cabin interiors. Currently, FIGAS operate five BN2 Islanders, four of which are configured for passenger and cargo transportation. The fifth aircraft is primarily an aerial surveillance aircraft but used occasionally on passenger duties when required.

Over the last decade, domestic and international passenger traffic have increased year-on-year despite dipping slightly in 2019/2020 due to the pandemic. This consistent growth prompted the purchase of a sixth aircraft which is scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2024, thus providing FIGAS with additional resilience to meet future demand.

The Islander aircraft depicted on the first day cover, registration VP-FBD, is the oldest in the fleet at 38 years in operation; the aircraft has logged over 19,800 flight hours and 48,500 landings.

VP-FBN is pictured on the 35p stamp; one of two aircraft originally purchased in 1989 for fishery surveillance duties, was eventually converted to a passenger transport aircraft in 2009 due to a reduction in surveillance requirements.

Also purchased in 1989 was VP-FBO, shown on the 80p stamp, and remains the sole fishery surveillance aircraft. VP-FBO is regularly tasked for passenger transport.

VP-FBR features on the stamp valued at £1.09; purchased in 1991 this aircraft has accumulated nearly 17,000 flying hours and 38,000 landings.

The newest aircraft, VP-FMC, portrayed on the £1.40 stamp arrived on the islands in December 2020 and has been very busy, amassing over 2,000 flying hours.

Text provided by FIGAS

Technical details:

Designer Bee Design

Photography FIGAS

Printer Cartor Security Printing

Process Lithography

Stamp Size 42 x 28mm

Perforation 13 ¼ x 13 ½ per 2cms

Sheet Layout 10

Release date 19 December, 2023

Production Co-ordination Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd