The Auster aircraft, manufactured in the United Kingdom where the prototype flew in 1938, became the first aircraft type to be operated by the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS).

The idea of introducing an internal air service was the brainchild of the then Governor Sir Miles Clifford in 1947. This idea resulted in two ex Army AOP (Air Observation Post) being purchased from the UK Ministry of Defence. Initially they were operated as landplanes but as a result of the soft airstrips were converted to floatplanes. Following the arrival and shortly after the first test flight of one of the Auster aircraft in December 1948 a seriously ill child at North Arm required urgent medical attention. This resulted in the very first passenger/medical flight undertaken in the Islands. This epic flight was later made into a documentary by the BBC World service. The Auster`s continued in FIGAS service until 1957.

Source: Falkland Post

published August 13th, 2012