Woleai Airport
Lat 7° 22' 35N Long 143° 54' 29E. Woleai Airfield is located on Falalop Island on the Woleai Atoll in Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia.
Woleai is roughly 423 miles southeast of Yap and 418 miles south of Guam.
Also known as Falalap Airfield, Woleai Airfield, Woleai Runway, and Woleai Airstrip.
War in the Pacific
Late 1942 or early 1943: An airstrip was built by the Japanese who cleared the entire island to construct a single runway measuring 3,290' x 330' running roughly northeast to southwest. A taxiway 2,050' x 165' ran north to south.
United States forces bombed the islands from late 1944 until the middle of 1945, Many Japanese were faced sickness and a lack of food and water. Only 1,600 of the 6,426 garrisoned soldiers were still alive when Japan surrendered. At the time of surrender, the runway was totally unusable, peppered with bomb craters.
On 19 September, the American Flag was raised over Woleai Atoll, in the Central Carolines two days after the beginning of surrender negotiations. "An Inspection of the Woleai Airfield showed that it required rebuilding, so thorough had been the destruction wrought by the 7th Air Force B-24s and various Navy search and photographic reconnaissance planes. This was a task which would require the use of heavy equipment. Many bomb craters were eight or ten feet deep necessitating the hauling of large volumes of coral to fill them. Most of the field was overgrown with vegetation, and some parts had even been made into gardens by the Japanese. The last plane to land the airstrip had come from Truk (Chuuk) in October 1944."
Post-War
Much of the swamp land on Falalop filled in by the Japanese during airstrip construction. It was not possible to reclaim this land, limiting acreages of Cyrtosperma and Colocasia (taro), two of the most important staples for native populations. Topography and proximity to taro patches result in localized flooding of the strip.
1960s
1967: Reverand Edmund J. Kalau, founder of Pacific Missionary Aviation (PMA), approaches the TTPI Government. PMA intends to provide air service from Yap to Woleai, inquiring about land rights for the airstrip. Initially TTPI indicated it had no documentation about legal ownership. In 1968 individuals on Woleai filed claims of ownership of the land. Specifically, the Mewawlafach, Gdfalew, and Safeiachig Clans. Pursuant to the provisions of the Micronesian Claims Act, these families were ultimately provided financial compensation. As with most other properties claimed or requestioned by the Japanese during their occupation, the land became property of the TTPI.
1970s
Circa 1975: Jon Cadd of Pacific Mission Aviation secures support from the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion Seabee’s on Yap. Seabees deploy graders, rollers and front-end loaders, ferried on a landing craft, to Woleai, rehabilitating the airstrip. Jon Cadd and Seabee Lt. Mike Schaefer fly out and land on the reworked runway. PMA begins Yap to Woleai service.
1980s
1980: $65,000 appropriated by the new Congress of the FSM for renovation of Woleai airport. Congressional Bill No. 1-228, Public Law No. 1-101.
2000s
2000: Census reports 975 persons living throughout the Woleai Atoll.
2004: The Woleai Airstrip and Woleai Anchorage designated Official Ports of Entry by the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia. Bill No. 13-102, Public Law No. 13-41.
An FSM Infrastructure Development Plan published the same year indicated that “There are three airstrips on Yap outer islands, namely on Ulithi, Fais and Woleai… that on Woleai cannot be used due to the condition of the runway... It is recommended that the Woleai airport be an upgrading project to convert the existing airport into a small airport capable of accommodating small to medium-sizes turboprop aircraft. This would enable a new domestic turboprop service between Chuuk and Yap to have Woleai as a regular or occasional immediate stop.”
2009: $7,000 appropriation for "Woleai Airport equipments purchase" by Congress of the FSM, Bill 15-189, Public Law No. 15-78.
2010s
2010: Census reports 1,039 persons living throughout the Woleai Atoll.
2010: $15,000 appropriation was made for the Woleai Airport Terminal by the Congress of The Federated States of Micronesia. Congressional Bill No. 16-153, Public Law No. 16-54.
2012: Massy Halbert, Assistant Secretary for Civil Aviation, FSM Dept. of Transportation, Communications & Infrastructure relays that PMA has suspended its flights to Woleai due to potholes and severe cracks on the runway. "The runway does not have proper drainage system." Halbert announces plans to Buy China–Made Y12 Aircrafts. Goals include: Reinstate schedules dropped by United Airlines especially in Kosrae and Yap; Improve strategic outer island airstrips to accommodate aircrafts; and Build hangars/offices in Yap and Pohnpei.
2013: traditional leaders of the Council of Tamol “reminded” the Yap State Government to “consider repairing the airstrip in Woleai as it is the only means of accommodating air service in the area, especially for medical evacuations and other emergencies in the near future.”
2013: $40,000 for "Woleai airport runway clearing/repair" in Bill 17-210, Public Law No. 17-82.
2015: the repaved World War II era air strip has become severely potholed and suffered drainage issues related to the adjacent taro patches. PMA decided to stop flying to Woleai until the government serviced the runway. Local authorities in Woleai ask the central government in Yap to do the work. Delays took place and neither did it. Runway at Woleai rendered functionally unusable.
2015: $7,000 for "Woleai Airport equipments purchase" in Bill No. 19-28, Public Law No. 19-17.
2017: A Chinese-made Y-12E aircraft was delivered to the government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). "It will be used for cargo transport, rescue and medical services in Micronesia," said Liu Huinan, deputy chief engineer at the company. The purchase order was obtained in 2013. The government will own the aircraft, which is to be operated by Caroline Islands Airline (CIA).
2017: $4,934 allocated for "Woleai Airport equipments purchase" in Bill No. 19-270, Public Law 19-157.
2017: $356,000 provided by Congress of the FSM for "Woleai airport terminal improvement" Bill No. 20-108, Public Law No. 20-60.
2018: FSM-Government backed Caroline Islands Airline (CIA) intends to fly to Woleai Atoll in the future, pending renovations of the airstrip. CIA intends to utilize the carrier’s new Harbin Y-12.
A "Woleai airport terminal improvement" project, costing $365,000, listed in a report issued by Office of the National Public Auditor, dealing with CFSM Public Projects for Yap State, Lack of Compliance with Laws and Regulations, in 2019.
2019: A CIA aircraft landed short of the runway threshold in Ta, Chuuk State, tearing off the starboard undercarriage. The Islander veered off the runway, damaging the outer wing, propeller, and shock loading the engine. Collisions with palm trees further damaged the wing and twisted the main-spar.
2020s
2020: FSM National Government fails to publish census figures. Limited releases indicate a nearly 20% drop in the population of Yap State. Experts suggest population decline in Outer Islands -such as Woleai- "has been heavy in the past ten years." Despite this, 1,039 remains commonly cited population figure for Woleai.
2020: a Caroline Islands Airline (CIA) aircraft landed long and overran the runway into the ocean at Kahalp, Mwoakilloa Atoll, Pohnpei State. According to the Department of Transportation, Communication, and Infrastructure, high tide waves spilling onto the runway may have been a factor. Aircraft was not recovered soon enough to prevent substantial damage.
2022, summer: an Invitation for Bids was announced for “Woleai Airport, Construction of Airport.” The invitation includes a mandatory pre-bid site visit and conference scheduled for the fourth week of August 2022. The bid submission deadline is set for September 30, 2022, was extended several times, finally to November 18, 2022.
2024: Queen Air Aircraft N44MA for Pacific Mission Aviation (PMA) was involved in an accident during its takeoff roll from Woleai. Despite heavy rains and flooding in the low section of the runway, the aircraft landed safely earlier and was preparing for departure when it lost control. While taking off from Woleai Island Airport in rain, the twin engine airplane veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt nearby a wooded area. All nine occupants escaped unhurt owing to the pilot's skillful, decisive action.
2025 Runway Improvements
April 30, 2025 (on or about): Chinese workers arrive in Yap, entering through a flight originating in Palau, avoiding US Customs and Immigration on Guam. The workers board a ship bound for Woleai with equipment and materials for the airport.
May 2, 2025: FSM President Simina meets with US Admiral Stephen T. Koehler, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Pacific in Palikir, Pohnpei. "During their discussions, President Simina reaffirmed the FSM’s deep appreciation for the enduring partnership between the FSM and the United States under the Compact of Free Association. The President emphasized that this partnership is not only strategic, but also personal, rooted in shared history, values, and mutual respect."
May 16, 2025: State-media in China reported that "President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Wesley W. Simina "said on Friday that his country looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in the years ahead....[thanking] the Chinese government and people for their selfless assistance to the development of the FSM, saying the center 'is more than concrete and steel -- it is a testament to the generosity and support of the government of the People's Republic of China.'" Further, "Simina said the FSM will continue to consolidate and develop friendly relations with China, and looks forward to continuing to deepen cooperation in the future and opening a new chapter in bilateral relations."
May 20, 2025: President Simina departs Yap for the Outer Islands, with the publicly stated purpose of his trip being attendance at the high school graduations on Ulithi, and then Woleai, Atolls.
May 26, 2025: An elaborate groundbreaking ceremony was conducted on Falalop, Woleai celebrating the "Reconstruction of Woleai Airport Runway." The project was characterized as a partnership between Shandong Hengyue Municipal Engineering Co., Ltd. of the People's Republic of China and the Department of Transportation, Communications & Infrastructure of the Federated States of Micronesia. The FSM President Wesley W. Simina was among the high level officials participating in the celebration.
