MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Joint efforts to keep BAS operating from the Falklands

BAS De Havilland Dash 7 at work in Antarctica

The Falkland Islands government and British Antarctic Survey, BAS, are jointly looking into ways of keeping BAS operating from the Islands. Stanley's airport insufficient fire cover is the obstacle and one of the options considered is using MPA as the primary air station.

According to a release from FIG, Chief Executive Tim Thorogood has had meetings in the UK with both BAS Head of Operations John Pye and Air Safety Support International (ASSI) Chief Executive Rod Dean to discuss how BAS can be retained in the Falkland Islands. In his meeting with BAS, Thorogood offered to split the costs involved in improving Stanley Airport's fire cover. But BAS has had to decline the offer due to un-affordability and because it feels the current arrangements meet its requirements as a corporate aircraft operator. However, both parties agreed to work jointly on a safety case to see if BAS can operate from the Islands without costly upgrades to Stanley Airport. The preference would be to continue to use Stanley, or if necessary MPA as the primary airfield and Stanley as a back up. In a later meeting with ASSI, the possibility of BAS using MPA as the primary airport with Stanley as a backup emerged as the most feasible option. If Stanley is used only as a diversionary airport then it is possible that expensive investment in fire safety improvements may not, subject to a safety assessment by BAS, be required. Also, flights from MPA to Stanley for maintenance only (carrying no passengers) could, subject to a detailed safety appraisal be possible. Councillor Mike Summers said "FIG is very keen to retain BAS in the Islands and a number of options have been discussed with BAS, ASSI and the Foreign Office. We are looking at what the options are which could allow BAS to operate from the Islands without expensive upgrades. If upgrades are necessary, then FIG is keen to see if BAS are willing to split the costs with FIG; so far BAS have said that is unaffordable. However, a way forward centred on MPA as the primary airport appears possible. We will continue to work closely with BAS, ASSI and MOD to explore this".