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by PaulRobinson 3707 days ago
I have been at the airport briefly, twice. Once on the way into the Falklands, once on the way out. Both in the early 2000s, both times on an RAF Tristar. I was a contractor going down there for a months worth of work, surrounded by civilians and military on my flights.

I remember being there on the way down middle of the day and all the army guys were grabbing beers. It was 35C and I was necking water. I thought they were crazy. I am told there are parts of the island that get hotter.

On the way back, middle of the night, 4am I think we landed. I remember thinking the plane was too warm, and I couldn't wait to get some fresh air. I stood by the door as it opened waiting for the cool breeze to come in. Nope: wall of hot air. It was in the 30s.

There's nothing there, really. It's obvious who runs the comms stuff, and it's obvious why it's kept the way it is, but nobody will talk about it.

A few people I spoke to have ventured further afield.

The lady I stayed with in the Falklands who ran a B&B told me she had holidayed there. It was beautiful, apparently.

A friend of mine was stationed there during the Falklands War helping refuel planes. It was hell, apparently.

2 comments

> It's obvious who runs the comms stuff, and it's obvious why it's kept the way it is, but nobody will talk about it.

Including you, it seems :)

Who runs the comms stuff? Why is it that way?

Well... Who ran the comms stuff?
It's an island in the middle of the ocean, placed between two continents, with limited, military-controlled access by the US and UK.

I don't think I'd need a spoiler tag to say government intelligence agencies.

Well, ærospace agencies actually, since there are few signals to intercept in central nowhere. Contacting satellites and guiding æroplanes over open ocean is a great use for an island in the middle of an ocean.
GCHQ Have a station there, I dont think its any big secret