Annual report on the Falkland Islands and Dependencies / Colonial Office.

  • Great Britain. Colonial Office.
Date:
[1973]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Falkland Islands and Dependencies / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    40/88 (page 34)
    At 31st December 1973 there were some 807 vehicles of all types in the territory, approximately half being used in Stanley. During the period under review 17 vehicles of all descriptions were imported, practically all of which originated in the United Kingdom. AIR SERVICE The Falkland Islands Government Air Service (F.I.G.A.S.), inaugurated in 1948 with one J.5. Auster landplane operated throughout 1972 and 1973 with two DH(C)2 Beaver floatplanes. The original medical and mail service has been expanded over the years to include passengers, freight and private charter. During 1972 4,225 passengers, 8,399 lb of excess luggage and 13,970 lb of freight were carried; and in 1973 the totals were 4,327 passengers, six, 490 lb of excess luggage and 16,729 lb of freight. Medical officers, dental officers, patients and travelling school teachers made up approximately 15 per cent of the passenger total. The total of passengers in 1973 was another record figure. Camp teachers are flown regularly around their beats on the main and outer islands and camp children attending in Stanley or Darwin travel mainly by aircraft. Letter mail is delivered and collected on all routine flights. In addition, overseas mail is dropped at settlements where no scheduled landings are to be made within three days of a mail arrival. Heavy mails, i.e. parcels and papers, are also delivered when weight/space is available. Livestock, mainly cats, dogs and pedigree rams are carried fairly frequently. An international air service operated by Lineas Aereas del Estado (the development airlines of Argentina) was inaugurated in Novem¬ ber 1972 and provides a weekly scheduled (Monday) service between Stanley and Comodoro Rivadavia (Argentina) using twin-engine turbo-prop Fokker F.27 Friendship aircraft. POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS The General Post Office is situated in Stanley and has six sub-post offices under its control—one at Fox Bay, one at South Georgia in the Dependencies and four in the British Antarctic Territory. Stanley is the main reception and distribution centre for mails received from overseas. Overseas airmail is received in the Colony every Monday by the L.A.D.E. F.27 aircraft. In addition there were occasional direct mailing opportunities to and from the United