I'm on the island of Weno name. It is the state of Chuuk which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Chuuk is made up of many islands and is known for wreck diving. (The wrecks being ships and planes from WWII.) The FSM is in free associate with the US. Their citizens can even serve in the US military. This is a place of poverty. Minimum wage is still $1.25/hr. (It has been that since I first came to this island 20 years ago.) But what has not stayed the same--prices of...well...everything.
A few islands on the rainy descent...
But I didn't write this post to share of the poor conditions here in this country, but to share the short runways. The TKK runway used to be the shortest runway Continental Airlines (now United) landed on. Most of these island runways are pretty short--and many date back to WWII built by the Japanese. (Yes, they have been resurfaced.) Flights run eastbound one day and westbound the next between Guam and Honolulu.
Here is a picture yesterday as we came in for the landing. Just inches to spare...
Then you speed right down the coast...
Once you reach the very end, you should have stopped. (Hopefully, if not, you're in the water. One of these flights did unfortunately land in the water once a few years back. One person died.) The pilot has to completely turn the plane around and then take you to the middle of the runway where they roll up the stairs.
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