Air Transportation to Isolated Small Pacific Islands

Hermann, Frank V. (1980). Air Transportation to Isolated Small Pacific Islands.

Abstract: Within the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands there are about 100 inhabitated islands scattered throughout 3,000,000 square miles of Pacific Ocean. Nine of the larger islands plus the Territory of Guam are served by air carrier aircraft. Three more islands are served by small aircraft. Passenger and freight transportation to and from all other islands is only available on ocean-going ships. Provision of basic medical and educational services to these ″outer islands″ is expensive and infrequent. An aviation system using short take-off and landing aircraft on minimum landing sites can provide reliable, inexpensive services and may be even less expensive than ships for transportation of freight.