MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentine passport problem.
A forgotten passport, left behind in Rio Grande, curtailed a planned long weekend in the Falklands for a group of Argentine private pilot enthusiasts.
Five aircraft carrying twelve pilots set off from Buenos Aires, aiming to fly south as far as Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. However, their eagerly anticipated destination was Port Stanley airport on the Falklands, and several days of sightseeing and shopping. During the southern section of the journey one aircraft unfortunately developed a serious engine problem and was lucky to make it to Sarmiento airport.
Firstly bad weather prevented take-off for the long and lonely 300 miles flight between the mainland and the Islands, on the day planned, for the remaining four aircraft. On the following day one single-engined Cessna, piloted by the intrepid Diego Ariztegui, whose grandmother was born in the Islands, made it across the open seas, accompanied by three flying friends as his passengers. The following day, two of the three aircraft waiting in Rio Grande, took-off and safely landed in Port Stanley, carrying six passengers. Then it was discovered that one pilot, Aldo Nicola, had inadvernantly left his passport behind! His Argentine identification document was unacceptable to the Falklands Government Immigration authorities, so Nicola had to return, as quickly as possible.
The following morning, after a reported series of high-level discussions between Falklands Councillors and officials, the newly arrived six Argentines donned their flying kit, wound up the two single-engine aircraft and took-off on the return journey, with the unfortunate Aldo Nicola expressing his sincere regret to everyone listening. The saga was not yet over though, and a few hours later both aircraft changed course and landed back at Port Stanley airport, having run into strong westerly winds which made their arrival in Rio Grande uncertain and unsafe, owing to high fuel consumption.
Most of the ten Argentines took the opportunity to visit the Argentine War cemetery at Darwin, and wreaths were laid in memory of their fellow-countrymen who died in the 1982 Falklands War.
A day later, with favourable winds, all three aircraft took off just after dawn, and five hours later, landed safely back in Argentina.
Patrick Watts (MP) Stanley
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