San Carlos Airport

Military Decommissioning. The airstrip was a temporary Forward Operating Base (FOB) built by British Royal Engineers during the 1982 Falklands War. It was constructed hastily with aluminum matting to support air operations after the San Carlos landings. Once the conflict ended and Argentine forces surrendered, the need for this forward base ceased. The subsequent construction of the permanent, large-scale RAF Mount Pleasant airbase (opened in 1985) made the temporary strip entirely redundant.

The site has been returned to nature. The aluminum runway matting was removed after the war, and the area is now open grassland, indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape except for a faint outline visible from the air. The location is part of the San Carlos settlement's farmland. The area remains a site of historical pilgrimage, being close to the landing beaches and the Blue Beach Military Cemetery, which honors the British war dead.

The airstrip, known as the Port San Carlos Forward Operating Base, holds immense historical significance related to the 1982 Falklands War. It was established at the site of the main British amphibious landings ('Blue Beach'). Its construction was a critical engineering feat, enabling RAF Harrier GR.3s and Royal Navy Sea Harriers to operate directly from the islands rather than solely from aircraft carriers offshore. This drastically reduced flight times to the front line, increased on-station loiter time, and allowed for more effective close air support for ground troops advancing on Stanley. The ability to operate from this strip was a key factor in establishing air superiority and directly contributed to the British victory.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening. The Falkland Islands are well-served by two permanent airports: RAF Mount Pleasant (MPN) for international and military flights, and Port Stanley Airport (PSY) for the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) internal network. There is no strategic, economic, or civilian need for an additional airfield at San Carlos. The site is now considered historic ground.