Work to resurface part of the airfield at Mount Pleasant Complex
in the Falkland Islands has been completed ahead of schedule.
Mount Pleasant Complex is the RAF's airfield in the Falkland
Islands and is an important overseas base for the Ministry of
Defence (MOD) which is run by UK Strategic Command. It is a vital
air link between the Falkland Islands and the UK.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) awarded the
contract to Mitie in October and the work was undertaken by a
number of specialist sub-contractors from the UK – some of whom
also completed the resurfacing of the site's Alpha Loop taxiway
last year.
The £20 million project saw the removal of 20,000m 2
of the airfield operating surface and its replacement with a high
quality asphalt, produced by the team on-island in a batching
plant specifically constructed for the project. Resurfacing took
place on the Foxtrot taxiway and the threshold, which is the part
of the runway where aircraft touch down when landing. All
equipment and materials had to be transported by ship from the
UK, a journey of 8,000 miles.
Maj Brad Southall RE, DIO's Project Manager, said:
Any construction project in the Falkland Islands can be
complicated thanks to the significant logistical challenges and,
in this case, the need to finish work before the austral winter,
when conditions make construction impossible. The requirement to
maintain the operational output of the airfield throughout
construction was also a particular challenge.
I'm delighted that the work has been completed ahead of schedule
and that is thanks to fantastic collaboration between all parties
– DIO, Mitie, Dyer and Butler, British Forces South Atlantic
Islands and UK Strategic Command.
Brig Daniel Duff, Commander British Forces, South Atlantic
Islands (BFSAI), said:
We are pleased that the runway works have gone so well, despite
the significant challenges of project delivery here on the
Islands. Of course, this is not by accident and the whole project
delivery team has collaborated closely with multiple BFSAI
departments throughout – it has been a real team effort. The
works form an important element in maintaining the operational
outputs of BFSAI and contribute to the continued delivery of our
mission.
Charlie Antelme, Managing Director of Defence at Mitie, said:
This project has been a really collaborative effort and
the dedication shown by all has paid off in the form of
an early completion ahead of the winter. This is the latest
of our refurbishment work at the Mount Pleasant Complex and we
look forward to continuing to deliver large scale projects in
support of the UK Armed Forces not only in the South Atlantic but
across the wider Defence Estate at home and abroad.
The project was supported by 8 Engineer Brigade Royal Engineers,
who supplied military engineers to undertake quality control and
liaise between the construction team and the airfield personnel.
This ensured the project team could work effectively around
continuing air operations without needing lengthy pauses to
either flying operations or construction.
