MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Survey plane damaged after landing gear failure; £30,000 feasibility study into government buildings' future; Radio DJs return; Reindeer meat on sale soon; Remember to buckle up...

Survey plane damaged after landing gear failure.

THE Fugro aeromagnetic survey aircraft, in the Islands carrying out work on behalf of Falkland Minerals Limited, suffered an uncomfortable landing while returning from a flight at the weekend. The aircraft was landing at Stanley airport at approximately 3.20pm on Saturday when a failure of the nose landing gear occurred. The aircraft came to rest on the runway. There was no fire resulting from the incident and the two people on board escaped uninjured. A spokesperson for the Department of Civil Aviation said, "The Stanley Airport Fire and Rescue Service were on the scene immediately as were engineers from the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) complex. "There was no fuel leakage from the aircraft and no risk of fire. All necessary precautions were taken by the firemen to secure the aircraft and the occupants were taken for a medical check." As a result of the incident the aircraft's propellers, engines and nose landing gear have been damaged. The aircraft has been recovered to the FIGAS hanger and an investigation into the cause of the incident is being conducted by the Department of Civil Aviation, in conjunction with the Flight Safety Department of Fugro Airborne Surveys and the Brazilian Department of Civil Aviation. Derek Reeves of Falkland Minerals Ltd said the company is relieved that no one was injured in the incident and, "...we are now awaiting a full report from Fugro Airborne Surveys as to the full extent of the damage and are also considering options to undertake additional survey work at a later date." He said the data collection phase of Falkland Mineral Ltd's aerial magnetic/radiometric survey over the Falklands that commenced in March this year, "...has collected to date a total of 32,685-line km. "The original planned survey was for 31,663-line km but an additional 1,489-line km were surveyed over specific areas that had been identified during the survey and from previous work. "The aerial magnetic and radiometric survey covered about 90% of the land area of 12,000 sq km, and included 10,300 sq km of 500m spaced flight lines and 1,500 sq km covered with 250m spaced lines and 125 sq km covered with 100m spaced lines. "The 250m and 100m areas include the key anomalies recognised from the survey and previous work." Mr Reeves said it is expected that the integration of all geological, assay and magnetic and radiometric data, "...including the interpretation and modelling of the magnetic data..." will be completed by late July, "...at which time an assessment of the project will be undertaken." He added, "If suitable targets are identified it is planned that drilling could commence late this year or early next year."

£30,000 feasibility study into government buildings' future.

OFFICIALS have defended spending £30,000 on a feasibility study into the future of some government buildings. On Wednesday, Chief Executive Chris Simpkins told the Falkland Islands Broadcasting Station that the study will look at buildings such as the Secretariat and Cable Cottage, which houses the Attorney General's Chambers. An architectural practice from Sheffield has been recruited to carry out the study. In light of the recently announced budget deficit for the coming financial year, Penguin News asked Councillor John Birmingham if the study could have been carried out by someone locally at less expense. His response is on page three.

Brief News:

Radio DJs return

TWO voices familiar to Islanders are to reappear on the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) in the Falklands. Steve Johnston and Hermina Graham, both former presenters on the Falkland Islands Broadcasting Station (FIBS), arrive in the Islands tomorrow. Steve will be presenting the Morning Show, broadcast to MPA only. He will be in the Islands for one month before taking up a long term posting in Cyprus. Hermina, who is in the Islands for a year, will present the Breakfast Show until July and will also be carrying out some television work for the forces service. BFBS Station Manager Richard Hutchinson says both DJs are "really excited" about being back in the Islands. Steve and Hermina are replacing presenters Sarah Corani and Nick Steele who are respectively off to Northern Ireland and Canada.

Reindeer meat on sale soon

FOR the first time, reindeer meat will soon be on sale in Stanley. Meat retailers Freshco have announced this week that they hope to have a selection of reindeer meat for sale on trial in July. Reindeer from South Georgia were first imported to the Falklands in 2001.

Remember to buckle up...

NEW seatbelt legislation comes into force on June 15. This will mean that all children aged 14 and under must be restrained in vehicles. Adults will also have to wear seatbelts on designated roads with a speed limit of 40 miles per hour or over.