The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has completed an £8.9 million project to resurface the alpha loop at Mount Pleasant Complex airfield on the Falkland Islands.
The loop is part of the taxiway system which allows aircraft to move to and from the runways. DIO worked with contractor Mitie and British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) staff to facilitate the landmark delivery of the project.
“The work progressed rapidly from concept to delivery within one financial year, having been initiated due to the degradation of the previous surface. If left untreated, it would eventually have threatened closure of the airbridge from the UK.
The logistical challenge was significant. The team needed to transport an entire concrete batching plant and vast amounts of heavy plant equipment over 8,000 miles from the UK to the Falkland Islands, an extraordinary achievement given the timeframe and challenging weather conditions. The team completed the 9,400m2 resurfacing project in less than a month, removing 3,500 tonnes of concrete, initially laid 40 years ago, and replacing it with stone mastic asphalt.”
Maj Dan Ellis, Project Manager, commented:
“Having been set up for success by my predecessor Major James Grant, seeing through the delivery of this project has been a tremendous privilege and great professional learning experience. Working closely with DIO and Mount Pleasant Complex staff, as well as with Mitie Defence and their sub-contractors has been the key to success. The speedy delivery of the Alpha Loop project should now serve as a showcase example of what can be achieved.”
Charlie Antelme, Managing Director, Defence, Mitie, said:
“Our refurbishment of the Alpha Loop taxiway system at the Mount Pleasant Complex in The Falklands will support the critical operations on-site for years to come, following the success of our resurfacing project on the runway last year.
Our essential work on this project will allow aircraft to move safely across runways, and will support a seamless process for aircraft landing and taking off at the airfield. We’re incredibly proud of the team for their swift and professional completion of this complex task and their continued support of our Armed Forces overseas.”
Main contractors Mitie, and subcontractors Dyer & Butler and Associated Asphalt, worked through challenging conditions and used local companies where possible, supporting the Falkland Islands’ economy.
The first aircraft used the newly resurfaced Alpha Loop the same day it was finished.
Any chance of some tarmac on the A420?
Why should your roads get special treatment? We don’t want a postcode lottery you know😀
Funny you should say that….greeted the guys repairing a selected few local deserving potholes one morning last week with ‘have we won the lottery’ ….shared a laugh. You know things are bad when the 40′ trailers start zigzagging 🙂
😂
A pothole lottery is a great idea. One of the prizes in the National Lottery should be getting the pothole of your choice fixed: road or pavement.
We already have that. If you live in a marginal seat magically there is more local investment, especially around election time. Pure coincident of course.
Roughly works out at …. £356,000 per metre…… just sayin.
Not sure what you mean, I have it as roughly £950 per square metre. Still a lot but not ridiculous.
Then take off the cost of getting the batching plant there and back…the cost of the other materials that have to be hauled from UK…..the cost of people/people transport/accommodation….
If you take that lot off then you probably get down to about £500/m2 then take off weather delays……
I’m not seeing crazy profits here…..
I wonder if it might not be cheaper to leave the batching plant there (& obviously available for use in future years if subject to some preventative maintenance)?
How long would it last if not used and maintained?
Would it be viewed as environmental contamination/dumping if there was no use for it…..?
It’s a military airfield, the infrastructure should already be there. Along with heavy plant to sweep the runways of unexploded ordinance. Even if the task is performed by a local TA/Defence Force unit. The fact they have called in contractors rather than he RE speaks volumes. Cutbacks again.
Should Falklands Islands be about to see significant investment, then leave the equipment there… batching concrete can be used for homes, businesses or infrastructure.
Is it the right type of setup for smaller batches?
No idea SB, I just wonder should there be vast mineral wealth, would there be serious infrastructure development on the islands.
Your thoughts?
There’s oil and gas down there but not much will be ever be extracted. A lot was discover around 10-12 years ago, But a future UK government is unilkely to be supportive of new licenses being granted, and even if the FIG granted licenses there would be questions from certain groups here why we’re providing defence for polluters.
Good point expat! Which poses the question, how will the FI ever pay for their own defence?
The weather is Cumbria has been abysmal for over a year now, but, the FI are degrees worse than here, how do grow the labour force prepared to live there and feed into the economy?
I have no idea.
Re route some “Asylum seeker/refugees” ( actually mostly economic migrants ) from settling in the UK to the FI? A safe area if they are fleeing from danger?
Guess how many will agree? I predict zero to very few!😉
Waits for the backlash….
The bennies would nut them Seriously, the Latvians laughed all the way to the bank of Euros because they took so many refugees knowing that General Winter cones once a year and the refugees all leave; they argue, reasonably, that it’s not their fault. Of course, on the FI there is no where to go… unfortunately, the sheep would be in for a rough time. However, the FI may possibly have the same rights as Manx, Channel Islands who also enjoy British protection but pay little if anything (?) towards it and yet have their own immigration policies. I’d send… Read more »
Zero backlash from me. Other than they would be inmates in my Internment and Interrogation Centre doing hard labour. Clearing Argie mines, breaking rocks for hardcore, digging trenches to drain bogs, keeping pig farms etc.
I very high number of the illegal economic migrants coming to the UK are muslim
You may find the Falklands very quickly becomes the Islamic Republic of the Falklands Isles. There only what, 3k islanders and we get that number in a handful of small dinghies.
When all is said and done. People died to maintain sovereignty over the place, so lets do it as a sign of respect. The aim should be to develop the islands, including energy extraction – gas and oil: Fishing and processing, a substantial penal Internment and Interrogation Centre and a naval base for submarines, etc. The locals and many other British people would flock there for high paying jobs. Along with the local supporting infrastructure. Very soon the remaining untouched FI natural resources are going to be very important. (When the current woke infatuation with bad science/climate change and EV’s… Read more »
An issue for the FI is actually the Chinese and their ‘fishing’ fleets.
I agree, their economy needs development and Daniele has crafted a great way to provide labour.
Well development of oil and gas is a political choice, our government can choose to support it or not. It would be hypocritical to ban North Sea licensing then support the FI in developing O&G. But I doubt they’ve thought about it, politician don’t like complex problems they prefer to make simple binary arguments.
I’m not sure where the next government stands on the islands they’ve made noises about European defence and North Atlantic. I’ll need to do a bit of research before passing judgement.
And o. Oil, Shell one of our biggest oil companies is looking at leaving London for the USA. I suspect that’s got a lot to do with who the next UK government will be. We really know how to shoot ourselves in the foot.
Have to disagree on that one.
BP et al, need to go to zero emissions – I know, is it real? And yet, unless we generate green energy production that can be made agile, scalable and exportable we will be at the back of the queue.
Trouble if shell exit UK, then BP will follow. That means HQs will move to the US and with it loads of tax revenues from executive pay and bonuses. There won’t be any money to invest in net zero, people forget Shell and BP bring in overseas money to our economy. When their shares trade on our stock exchange it creates revenue as the transaction have charges associated. They’ll feel.far less obligation to invest in UK energy transition when it’s no longer their home country.
I have never heard that it was expected for the Falklands Government to pay for their own defence. That is unachievable.
The Falklands population has slowly increased over time, despite expectations.
As long as Argentinean Hercules don’t arrive 🤗 🇬🇧
If they do we won’t have anything to bomb it…
Errr…..how about a TLAM (from an Astute) or bombs from an F35B (launched from a QEC)?
These would be guaranteed runway hits.
Both of those would be a lot better than anything a Vulcan could have achieved. No criticism of the RAF crews but the bomb aiming was based on a WW2 radar set.
Stand by for incoming😀I got blasted in another thread about using a TLAM! Apparently the cousins would not look on too favourably if we started lobbing them about South America😉 However if someone wants to play with us then I say we use what we have got to defend our sovereign territory and stuff them!
Bravo.
Agreed! Last time I was in favour of removing a nuke from the old Polaris, filling it with TNT and sending it to Buenos Aires. With a diplomatic warning that the next one will not be conventional if they didn’t withdraw immediately.
I was told that the idea had already been discussed at the highest level. Despite US misgivings. Just how true that was, I don’t know. But considering it was Baroness Thatcher at the helm perhaps it was. May she rest in peace, God bless Her.
While the event of Argentina re-invading the Falklands any time soon is beyond the realms of reality, the thought that the US would stand in the way of us using TLAM to re-re-take it is even more laughable. We used a number of US-supplied weapons last time, when there were notably anti-UK senior figures in the US administration, so I don’t really see why that wouldn’t be allowed again.
Keep suggesting TLAMs!
I think their issue was if we fired them at Argie airbases etc! This was just their opinion so ifs what’s and maybes would all be in play.
Ah, I see, strikes onto the mainland. I suppose they do have the Rio Treaty, but that only applies if Argentina isn’t the aggressor- which they clearly would be if they invaded the Falklands.
I doubt the US would say much about it- but you never know..!
The point of Black Buck was largely to illustrate to the Argentines that their own territory was also within bombing range. I don’t suppose that’s a point that needs to be made so explicitly these days.
True.
But we now have stealth jets with laser guided bombs that are incredibly accurate and not crazy expensive. We also have a big pile of them and RAF like them!
Unfortunately we don’t currently have a cruise type missile to launch from F35B but we will have the proper Anglo/French one for T45/T26/T31
Let’s not forget NSM as that has a decent surface/land capability
I still think NSM should be integrated onto F-35, Typhoon and Poseidon.
Criminal that with so few of all types of asset, we’re not making the most out of them.
The air version of NSM is JSM and it is integrated into F35B for external carrying.
Which is fine, but we only have around 30 F-35s. It should be integrated onto Typhoon – as our most numerous jet and the mainstay of the RAF – as well as the Poseidon.
Typhoon isn’t much use in the middle of the South Atlantic…..
Typhoon is already based on the Falklands, so could be used to launch Storm Shadow although I suppose it does depend on the hypothetical scenario: Are we preventing a re-invasion of the Falklands, or re-taking the already-invaded islands (and thus presumably the Typhoon force has been destroyed)? Arguably the big crime is that -as a maritime nation- none of our fixed wing aircraft have an AShM at all- what with the retirement of Sea Eagle. Until FC/ASW arrives, but that will only be equipping F-35B unless I’m mistaken. Which means that Poseidon and Typhoon- our maritime patrol and QRF aircraft… Read more »
Also Typhoon has storm shadow integrated.
Different scenario to 82 now mate. We could seal up Argentina with one submarine. They were shit then, stall are as far as I can see.
Yeah suppose you are right, no doubt we can kick the….. Out of them, just a little made in England nostalgic…. As I think we are all. 🍻
Really?
Yes, really. Poorly trained, lack equipment and no motivation. Argentina are still a third world country military wise. As already stated, an Astute class Submarine with cause critical damage to what they have left.
I think you’ve got the wrong end of my meaning, Neil.
I was agreeing with SB in my “really?” to Lee, and I’m fully aware of both our capabilities and the Argentinean shortcomings.
Bomb it? We should commandeer it.
Really they have aircraft still which actually fly?
If they do, and that is assuming they took out the GBAD, very unlikely, why not drive some bloody big bulldozers stored at MPA ( hopefully ) by the RE and park them on the runway? No landing.
Our planned landings using Hercs into Rio Grande were seen as suicidal so I guess it works both ways?
Argentina is getting 24x F-16s I was reading earlier this week.
Charlie Antelme, Charlie Antelme fmr Guards Officer? Who knew?
Good job and on time. I wonder why the Ascension runway took so long and why it was not brought back into service when it reached say 2.5 kilometers. Considering its strategic importance they could have cordoned off the last 500 metres to the 3km mark and allowed traffic to return earlier?
Can’t we also use St Helens’s new runway for FI logistics?
Hi expat. St Helena’s airfield is probably too short for most traffic to FI. I think it is only 1900 metres long
I would assume the F35B will become a candidate to protect the islands. It STOVL capabilty means it can still operate off any small stretch of tarmac on the island. US marines are practiciing austere ops with the F35B in the pacific. I guess the Typhoon is the go to whilst the threat is low but should things warm up the F35B would surely be a better/flexible option. Discuss 🙂
In the Falklands forward strips were set up using the matting laid by the RE. ( I recall our Farouk talked of this firsthand? ) so why not? I think F35 also has some more rather specialised requirements compared to a Harrier operating from a forest hide?
The down blast from F35B is massive compared to Harrier.
Yes, needs a special protected surface I believe? So assume that should rule the REs matting out?!
dya think that far south it would move the earth from its axis and send us ito another ice age 🙂
Could we spare 4 x F-35B deployed to FI plus a couple on standby in the UK in case of a major overhaul being required?
I have not heard that they would be better at defending the islands against enemy air than the Typhoons that are currently there.
I don’t think the F35 is any better for QRA. It’s obviously used for QRA in those countries where its the only, primary fighter. It has limited antiship capability atm. So it’s perhaps more of a consideration towards the end of decade when block 4 upgrade arrives. I would say, an obvious target on day one of any attack would be the runway, it prevents rapid resupply and Typhoons taking off. Just how that would be targeted would take some creativity and/or weapons Argentina don’t have atm. But we’ve seem how effective drones could be in this role and could… Read more »
Am I missing something here. Why are contractors required to repair/resurface runway infrastructure? Is there no inhouse capability on-site to conduct repairs, such as RE attacked and heavy plant to clear unexploded ordinance and repair runways. There used to be kit like that at every airfield! There were even RE TA units that specialised in that very thing. Surely those lads are on speed-dial for this duty. Don’t tell me, they were axed in one of the cost cutting disasters since the 1990’s. Lessons learned the hard way in every conflict since WWII – 101. Fixed targets like airfield must… Read more »
George, I actually had the same thought, in house.
We still have the capability, 39 RE are now at Kinloss and remain our ADR/Aviation support capability, plus there are some STRE’s and the paired reserve regiment.
As for stockpiling, like we did at airfields in the Cold War, assume all that was long since binned but unsure for certain.
There is a RE unit on the FI but I don’t know what kit they have with them for this.
I’d be horrified to discover there is no capability to repair the airstrip already deployed to the FI. Repair is different to totally resurfacing but no reason why it can’t be done. It must have been suggested. I wonder why it was decided to go with contractors rather than deploy RE airfield support and take advantage of a training opportunity. Oh well, situation normal AFU as they say.
Maybe because the perception of threat is currently very low its deemed unnecessary to have the equipment and personnel stationed there. Resurfacing is a long term prevention action and I would think quick turn around would have been important to ensure minimal disruption. I would assume the same contractors who tender for this world also do commercial airports and therefore are pretty good at what they do. As the commercial sector will be very quality and price focused.
Cheers, valid points well made. But do you think the threat is actually very low. What value is placed on experience for military personnel and preparedness for the future?
I’m a firm believer that the Falkland Islands and resources, have an important role to play in Great Britain’s future.
I think right now Argentina has enough problems, but had the previous government won power again I would be concerned because they were getting ever closer to China and China would live to have us tied up in the South Atlantic
I would hope personnel could get similar experiences at home, or even with allies.
I’m also a supporter if the FI, it also a very strategic location enabling us and our allies access to the South Atlantic
I am fairly sure that we had an RE ADR team down there in 1999/2000 when I was there. Cannot recall if it was a Sqn or less than that.
I thought the RE commitment was around Sqn size so I’d guess the ADR capability just a part of that.
Could be. Not sure if there is an RE presence in FI now and whether that includes an ADR remit.
Neither am I.
Contractors have always built new runways and airfields even in WW2!
Very true but it’s not a new airfield/runway and those kinds of tasks are great training exercises for specialists units. It also demonstrates intent to potential enemies who are always watching. While down there, the same RE units could build a few local roads for “Benny” and the occasional dispersal site for F35B to operate from.
Proper Planning and Preparation, Prevents etc etc.
I don’t think you would find much enthusiasm from any TA unit to be deployed to the Falklands. I know two people who were posted there ( one Army, the other RAF ) and both said it was a dire posting
One of the reservist Para Reg battalions were there for their annual camp and enjoyed it. My memory of reading about it is poor, it could have been a longer deployment. But they were working closely with the locals to learn the terrain. In return, repairing buildings, fences and clearing “left-overs” from the war.
RE airfield repair units would likely jump at the chance. I know I would have in their place. You may be surprised how keen many of the reservists are for meaningful deployment.
It hasn’t been called the TA since 2014. There have been occasions when the TA/Army Reserve deployed to FI but not for a 6-month tour, but for a trg exercise of a fortnight or so. I see no reason why the lads would not jump at the chance.
As far as Regs, some (eg SAM gunners, whether RAF Regt (back in the day) or RA) did many tours and it lost its novelty factor. I did one tour and loved it.
In Wartime Airfields should have the capability to self repair Battle Damage but this was a complete renewal of an important section, where bringing in Contractors would have been the better solution.
We had ADR capability from a Sapper unit in 1999/2000 when I was there.
I presume that the RE’s Airfield Repair Teams cannot do resurfacing (hence use of a contractor). Perhaps that needs looking at.