Contents
Key Facts
| Self Governing From: |
| 1 October 1841 |
| Capital City: |
| Stanley |
| Total Area Ranking: |
| 163 |
| Population Size Ranking: |
| 234 |
| Soverignty: |
| United Kingdom |
| Status: |
| current |
The Territory
Geography
The Falkland Islands is a British Oversea Territory, located in the south Atlantic Ocean, some 500 km (310 miles) off the coast of Argentina. There are about 200 islands in the Falkland Islands group, but almost all the population live on the two largest islands, East and West Falkland, which are separated by the Falkland Sound.
Situated on a projection of the South American continental shelf, the terrain of the two main islands is mostly rugged and mountainous, with poor quality soil. Some low undulating ground away from the mountains provides some pasture. The southern part of East Falkland, called Lafonia, is characterised by a mainly a flat plain and ideal for sheep farming. The coastlines of all the islands are lined with natural bays and harbours. The total land area is 12,173 sq km (4700 sq miles).
The population of 2,900 (2012 figure) is 59% Falkland Islander, 29% British, 9.8% St Helenian and 5.4% Chilean, (although these official figures add up to 103.2%). Some 67.2% of the population is Christian, 31.5% none and 1.3% other faiths. The capital city is Stanley on East Falkland.
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National History
Timeline – Key Dates in Falkland Islands History
Further National Information
BBC News Profile: Falkland Islands
Yahoo Flakland Islands Islas Malvinas page
wikipedia: Falkland Islands
wikipedia: History of the Falkland Islands
Aviation
Text to be added on the development of aviation in the Falkland Islands.
Markings
Civil Aircraft Registrations
Civil aircraft in the Falkland Islands were allocated the registration prefix VP-F in 1929. The first aircraft to use this prefix arrived in 1948. This prefix is still in use.
Complete (Historical) Civil Rotorcraft Register of Falkland Islands
Aircraft Operators
Military Air Arms
The defence of the Falkland Islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.
For a short period during the Argentine occupation of 1982, units from the Argentine Air Force and Prefectura Naval operated from the Falklands Islands.
Central Government Agencies
Government Aviation – VIP tranport is provided by FIGAS
Public Service Aviation
Medical Aviation – EMS & Rescue services are provided by RAF helicopters.
Police Aviation (Royal Falkland Islands Police) – no aviation unit
Commercial Aviation
Falkland Islands Government Air Service – FIGAS
wikipedia: Airlines of the Falkland Islands
The World’s Airlines: Falklands Islands
Private Aviation
To be added
Industry
Aircraft Manufacturers
None known.
Aircraft Maintenance/Repair Depots
None known.
Airfields
Civil Airports & Airfields
Curacao International Airport
Princess Juliana International Airport
Other airports
Airports in the Netherlands Antilles
Military Air Bases & Airfields
The Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service operated from Hato Airport 1952-2007. The USAF has based aircraft at Hato Airport at various times.
On Show
Aviation Museums
Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust
Mount Pleasant Complex
Airshow Dates
None known.
More Information
Aviation-Related Magazines
None known.
Aviation Bibliography
Falklands Islands Aviation Bibliography – to be added
The Falkland Islands Civil Aircraft Register 1949 – 2006 by Douglas A Rough (Air-Britain)
Web Links