| RAF Mount Pleasant Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: MPN – ICAO: EGYP | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public / Military | ||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||
| Location | East Falkland, Falkland Islands | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 243 ft / 74 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 10/28 | 8,497 | 2,590 | Asphalt |
| 5/23 | 5,003 | 1,525 | Asphalt |
RAF Mount Pleasant (IATA: MPN, ICAO: EGYP) (also known as Mount Pleasant Airport, Mount Pleasant Complex or MPA)[1] is a military base for the Royal Air Force in the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around The Ministry of Defence ( MoD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters East Falkland (Isla Soledad the largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, has an area of 6605 square kilometres (2550 sq mi. The term above mean sea level ( AMSL) refers to the Elevation (on the ground or Altitude (in the Air) of any object relative to the A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A runway ( RWY) is a strip of land on an Airport, on which Aircraft can take off and land. A runway ( RWY) is a strip of land on an Airport, on which Aircraft can take off and land. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom The facility is part of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI). The Falkland Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom and as such rely on the UK for guarantee of their security The station, home to between 1,000 and 2,000 British military personnel, is located about thirty miles southwest of Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, on the island of East Falkland. "Port Stanley" redirects here For the town in Canada see Port Stanley Ontario. East Falkland (Isla Soledad the largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, has an area of 6605 square kilometres (2550 sq mi. The world's longest corridor, a half-mile long, links barracks, messes and recreational and welfare areas of the base. [2] The base is occasionally referred to by its residents as the Death Star because of its sometimes confusing layout. The Death Star is a Fictional Space station and Superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe.
Contents |
History
RAF Mount Pleasant is the most recent purpose-built airfield in the Royal Air Force. [3] The RAF previously had a small base at Stanley airfield after the end of the hostilities in 1982. "Port Stanley" redirects here For the town in Canada see Port Stanley Ontario. During the Falklands War when the islands were occupied by Argentine military forces, British aircraft were sent to disable the runway with RAF Strike Command Vulcan bombers (Operation Black Buck) and Royal Navy Sea Harriers. The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom 's combat aircraft from 1968 until WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout During the Falklands War, Operations Black Buck 1 to Black Buck 7 was a series of seven extremely long-range ground attack missions The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The raids were moderately successful, and on the first Black Buck mission one 1,000 lb bomb hit the runway in the middle, disabling it. However, temporary repairs by the Argentines did allow Hercules C130 transport aircraft to bring in supplies and take out casualties until the end of the conflict. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout After the end of hostilities the runway was fully repaired by British military engineers.
After the surrender of the Argentine ground forces on the islands, the British still faced the problem of potential Argentine air attacks from the Argentine homeland, so an aircraft carrier had to remain on station to guard the islands with its squadron of Sea Harriers until the local airfield was prepared for jet aircraft. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. HMS Hermes was the first to take guard duty, whilst HMS Invincible went north to change (at sea) a gearbox that had broken while departing the mainland UK. Construction and modifications She was laid down by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness during WW II as HMS Elephant. History Invincible was built at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering. The Argentines claimed the aircraft carrier was hit on May 30, and needed repairs. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Invincible then returned to relieve Hermes which urgently needed to return to the UK for boiler cleaning. Invincible returned until she was relieved by the newly built HMS Illustrious, which was quickly rushed south and commissioned during the journey. See HMS ''Illustrious'' for other ships of the same name Construction She was laid down at Swan Hunter on the River Tyne Once the Port Stanley runway was available for jets, Illustrious was relieved by several RAF Phantom FGR.2.
The British government felt that Stanley airfield was not the best option for a large, permanent base and decided to construct a new RAF station and make it the centrepiece of the Islands' considerably strengthened defences. This was intended to deter any future Argentine attempts to take the islands by force. Mount Pleasant, to the west of Stanley, was chosen as the site for the new station. The airfield was opened by Prince Andrew in 1985, and became fully operational in 1986. [4].
Current equipment
RAF Mount Pleasant has a wide range of social and sporting facilities including a gym, swimming pool, golf course, diving centre, karting, laserquest, library, cinema, bowling, climbing wall and indoor and outdoor sports pitches. There are two NAAFI shops, hairdressers, a medical centre, and a education centre on the base. The Navy Army and Air Force Institutes ( NAAFI) (ˈnæfiː is an organisation created by the British government in 1921 to run recreational establishments needed There is also a complex that includes a café and a small shop (RONOKEs), which are both owned and run by the Falkland Islands Company. Falkland Islands Holdings plc (FIH is a company which plays a key role in the economy of the Falkland Islands. [5]
Currently based at Mount Pleasant are No. 1435 Flight with 4 Tornado F3s, No. 1312 Flight, with a single VC-10 tanker and one Hercules C130, as well as No. No 1435 Flight is a unit of the Royal Air Force based in the Falkland Islands. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout No 1312 Flight is an independent flight of the Royal Air Force supporting the defence of the Falkland Islands The Vickers VC10 is a British Airliner designed and built by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft Ltd and first flown in 1962. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout No.1564 Flight (since November 2007) with 2 Sea King helicopters maintained by SKIOS (Sea King Integrated Operational Support), an aeronautical engineering confrontation between Augusta Westland and VT Aerospace. No 1564 Flight is an independent flight of the Royal Air Force stationed at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout There are also 2 Sikorsky S61 civilian Helicopters run by British International Helicopters Limited (Brintel). Ground units include No 7, 303, and 751 Signals Units and a Rapier detachment from the RAF Regiment. Rapier is a British Surface-to-air missile developed for the British Army and Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force Regiment ( RAF Regt) is a specialist Airfield defence Corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942 [6][7]
33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) provides constant support and is part of the Joint Service Falkland Islands Detachment which consists of RAF and RLC EOD teams. Royal Logistic Corps is the British Army Corps that provides the logistic support for the Army Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe It is mainly based in Stanley but there is also a detachment at Mount Pleasant. "Port Stanley" redirects here For the town in Canada see Port Stanley Ontario. The group destroys munitions from the Falklands War that did not explode at the time and briefs troops, tourists and citizens on the areas which are safe and the minefield marking that has been put in place. The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the [8]
There is also a Joint Communications Unit (JCU) providing the electronic warfare and command and control systems for the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force. Electronic warfare ( EW) is the use of the Electromagnetic spectrum to effectively deny the use of this medium by an adversary while optimizing its use by friendly The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. [9]
Passenger flights
Using the IATA airport code MPN, RAF Mount Pleasant also acts as the Falkland Islands' only international airport, along with its military role. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many Flights open to civilian passengers are operated six times each month. Since autumn 2007 these flights have been operated by a civilian airline, Omni Air International, on behalf of the Royal Air Force. Omni Air International is a United States charter Airline, based in Tulsa Oklahoma, USA. They fly to and from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, with a refuelling stop at RAF Ascension Island in the south-central Atlantic Ocean. RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, about 50 miles west of London, England, United Kingdom, is the largest airbase of the Royal Air Force History See also History of Oxfordshire The county of Oxfordshire was formed in the early years of the 10th century and is broadly situated in the Royal Air Force Station Ascension, more commonly known as RAF Ascension Island, and sometimes known as Ascension Island Base, is a British military These flights currently use McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft although occasionally an RAF Lockheed Tristar freight aircraft or an Antonov An-225 bring in large items of freight. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout
Additionally, every Saturday LAN Airlines operates a scheduled commercial flight to the city of Punta Arenas in southern Chile, stopping at Río Gallegos, Argentina once a month. LAN Airlines SA is an Airline based in Santiago Chile. It is the principal Chilean airline and one of the largest in South America with flights to Punta Arenas (literally in Spanish: "Sandy Point" is the most prominent settlement on the Strait of Magellan and the capital of the Magallanes y la Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Río Gallegos is the capital of the Patagonic province of Santa Cruz, Argentina. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics.
Airlines and Destinations
Omni Air International
LAN Airlines
FIGAS
- Stanley and other settlements on the Falklands
See also
Sources
External links
- World Aero Data - RAF Mount Pleasant
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