New Caledonian Aviation
No regular military forces; French military, police, and gendarmerie.
New Caledonia has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since 1986. Agitation by the Front de Libération Nationale Kanak Socialiste (FLNKS) for independence began in 1985. The FLNKS (led by the late Jean-Marie Tjibaou, assassinated in 1989) advocated the creation of an independent state of "Kanaky". The troubles culminated in 1988 with a bloody hostage taking in Ouvéa. The unrest led to agreement on increased autonomy in the Matignon Accords of 1988 and the Nouméa Accord of 1998.
This Accord describes the devolution process as "irreversible" and also provides for a local Caledonian citizenship, separate official symbols of Caledonian identity (such as a "national" flag), as well as mandating a referendum on the contentious issue of independence from the French Republic sometime after 2014.
The Nouméa Accord provides a mechanism for the determination of the ultimate status and degree of New Caledonian territorial autonomy: pursuant to the Accord, the Territorial Congress will have the right to call for a referendum on independence at any time of its choosing after 2014. (en.wikipedia.org)
The islands have 12 airports with paved runways (over 3,047 m: 1; 914 to 1,523 m: 10; under 914 m: 1), 13 airports with unpaved runways (914 to 1,523 m: 5;under 914 m: 8), and eight heliport.
Knowledge of aircraft and helicopters.