New Delhi, Feb. 2 -- The Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) was established in November 1948 with the arrival of two Auster aircraft to provide the community with an air ambulance service. The first flight, a post assembly flight check, was performed on 19 December of that year. The first air ambulance flight took place six days later on Christmas Eve when a young girl, Sandra Short, was airlifted to hospital in Stanley. The aircraft used for the flight was an Auster, Mk.5, registration G-AJCH piloted by Vic Spencer. In 1950 the Auster aircraft were supplemented by a Noorduyn Norseman float equipped aircraft to provide increased capacity enabling the air service to begin passenger services on a more regular basis. By 1953, the ...