Airline Lobbies To Pave Ofu Island Reef

I thought I’d make you aware of a situation happening in American Samoa right now.

Inter Island Air, the airline currently serving the inter-island flights in the territory, are demanding the extension of Ofu’s runway. This will of course destroy a large section of the reef.

Please read this article from this morning’s Samoa News:

http://www.samoanews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=13253&edition=1267783200</a>

If you feel so inclined, I’d like to ask all of you to voice your concerns to not only the editor at Samoa News but anywhere else you think would make a difference. If some of you are experts in the area of ocean conservation and marine science and can back up your concerns with hard data your voices will carry and speak far louder than mine but anything any of you can do would be helpful. Please note that time is of the essence.

I think it's interesting that Inter Island Air have a problem with Ofu's runway, citing safety concerns as the reason for destroying the reef. It’s interesting to me simply because Ofu airport is the only airport in the Territory that has never had a safety-related incident or accident.

A quick look at NTSB records prove that Pago Pago, Fitiuta, and the old Ta’u airport have histories of accidents. Ofu airport, on the other hand, over its long history, is the safest airport in the Territory.

It’s also interesting that IIA operated their Dornier 228-212 aircraft out of Ofu for several years and have only recently decided that they can’t do so due to “safety concerns.”

What changed? Why did they fly the 228 to Ofu in the past if it was dangerous? Were IIA putting passengers in grave danger when they flew to Ofu before?

It occurs to me that IIA have the wrong aircraft for Ofu and are demanding the destruction of natural resources for this tenuous reason. We’ve seen airline operators come and go over the years and all have been able to operate in and out of Ofu without incident, most while flying hearty Twin Otter aircraft.

When IIA pack up and leave, like all airlines seem to do in the Territory, taking their now admittedly unsuitable Dornier aircraft with them they will also leave Ofu with a forever demolished reef. Is this the sort of bargain that needs to be made?

Destroying the reef on Ofu is a foolish endeavor. At a time when the Territory is once again trying to develop tourism, the last thing that ought to be done is destroy the one unique and rare attraction the islands have to offer: the natural beauty of the reef on Ofu Island.

Extending the airport to serve a population of <500 is a foolhardy waste of taxpayer money, an environmental disaster, and completely unnecessary from a safety perspective. On the environmental side, proponents of the airport extension don't seem to realize that destruction of Hawksbill turtle nesting habitat by the project presents a major barrier to the project. Perhaps they also don't realize that about 50 coral species in Ofu's waters are being considered for federal protection. And there are numerous other large environmental obstacles.

In the past eleven years I’ve visited Ofu more than fifteen times and consider myself a bit of an expert on the tourism potential of the Manu’a Islands and like it or not every travel guide I’ve ever read singles out Ofu above the rest of attractions in American Samoa as the “not to be missed” place for visitors to see, and the reason inevitably given is Ofu’s beautiful beaches and pristine reef.

I’ve seen the studies for the “problematic” situation with Ofu airport’s runway and therefore know that there are alternate solutions that could be executed that would not involve filling and paving the reef and I therefore implore the powers that be to please think long term and preserve the natural beauty of American Samoa for today and the generations that come.

For a long time now I’ve believed that if extending the runway is the only option they’ll consider then they should permanently close Ofu airport and use Fitiuta (Ta’u) for all of Manu’a air service and begin a reliable and fairly priced water taxi service between Ta’u and Ofu/Olosega much like the service between Tutuila and ‘Aunu’u.

Again, if you would like to help save the natural beauty of one of the world's treasures, please do whatever you can.

Thanks all,

--Terry Skaggs
webmaster: Vaoto Lodge

It's the same all over the planet-people sell/destroy everything they have-even their children's future-so they can worship their god-money.

Just a note. Inter Island was restricted to carrying 9 passengers to Ofu. It was the FAA that closed the airport. Finally, the only other choice of extending the runway was to extend the runway past the Vaota Lodge and eliminate the direct access to the waterfront from the Vaota Lodge, something the parties have not wanted to do.

In the interest of ecological preservation would you favor that solution?

Finally, your concern seems to be rooted in tourism. I am surprised you have given little concern to the residents of Ofu and Olesega who actually have to live without air service. Their opinion should mean something too, I believe.

Your comparison to Aunuu is foolish; for many reasons.

Back to the question of extending the runway; cut off access to the reef from the Lodge? Let's hear your say on that.

From Pago

JW