Getting in and out of Pohnpei
I remember arriving by plane in Pohnpei was a bit dramatic, as the runway is constructed from end-to-end of a small island (Takatik Island). This is linked to the main island by a causeway.
To give you an idea, this is a photo I took of the airport from the top of Sokehs Rock in 1999.
According to my trusty manual on Pohnpei (”An Island Argosy” by Gene Ashby), tradition has it that Takatik Island is inhabited by a female ghost. She apparently shows her anger from time to time, and has previously caused the runway to sink, requiring the airport to be closed for repairs.
Maybe the ghost got angry again. Earlier this week, a 727 cargo plane slid off the side of the runway and has blocked it, and closed the airport until it can be moved. This article at Pacific Magazine has a picture of the stuck place. There’s a full story of the incident at this Pacific Magazine article.
This has happened before. In 2001, the runway was closed when another 727 had a landing gear collapse on the Pohnpei runway. Maybe that ghost has a lot of pent up anger at the runway on her island!
Anyway, I found the below passenger’s video out the window from a plane taking off from Pohnpei. It’s a bit grainy, but once the plane takes off, it shows Pohnpei through the clouds.
This video appears to be have been taken from the Continental Micronesia “Island Hopper” service, which runs from Guam to Honolulu, stopping at islands in Micronesia and the Marshall Islands along the way. Visiting all of the islands on the run would be a lot of fun, although I think that the US Military won’t let you off the plane at Kwajalein. I found some photos and trip reports from some people who have done it before:
- The Island Hopper: http://gmbhome.com/micro05/Islandhop.htm
- Photo Tour: The Island Hopper Flight: http://photomondiale.com/tours/micronesia_2002/1_island_hopper.html
- A trip report of a ride on the Island Hopper at Airliners.net (including a great photo looking down on Pohnpei airport)
“An Island Argosy” reminds me that the causeway out to Takatik Island is the longest straight stretch of road in Pohnpei. Apparently, it’s where all the traffic accidents occur (still?) at night. I found another video of the drive down Main Street, Kolonia, and out along the causeway to the airport. Again, it’s a bit grainy, but it’s just as I remember it.
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