Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai underwater volcano

[cowpatz]

Today I operated the second of 2 flights that Air NZ operated to Tonga. Unfortunately the photos don't do it justice as they are just from a phone camera through cockpit windows but they will give you some idea.
The underwater volcano is about 35 nm NNW of the airport. The plume in the photos extends to about 22,000ft. Instead of the usual easterly wind this time of the year it was a Norwesterly which couldn't be worse.
The plume is mostly steam but there is some ash in the lower levels. None of it reached the airport. There was a bit of haze and a very light smell of SO2.
Unfortunately the NZ Volcanic service issued a forecast that has the ash trail spreading across the airfield later on so the 3rd flight (another 767) was cancelled as a precaution.
I certainly wouldn't want to operate there at night.

[waka172rg]

Steve it seems OK that day. Just have to make the decision b4 hand. Just do it oh hold your not in PNG lol (IFR into hagen on a s**t day) lol Nice pic love the winglet

My cousin is flying the air niugini 767 into Singapore, sometime wish i stayed on but my family come first! F100 tis where it stopped first jet lucky it was the Tay.

[omitchell]

How late were you? Heard the flights were delayed...

[cowpatz]

Our flight was delayed by 30 min but only due to the usual (ie. No gates to depart from etc). We did a very quick turnaround in Tonga so as not to end up trapped there if it did start to rain ash.

[Ian Warren]

I'm sorta looking at this like when the IJN battleship Yamato blew up after the attack by US Navy aircraft the smoke column rose and was seen 200 miles away from the Southern most island of Japan, Kyushu, these photos almost give some perspective , great snaps.

[deeknow]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jan 15 2015,9:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The underwater volcano is about 35 nm NNW of the airport. The plume in the photos extends to about 22,000ft.

Wowza !!! that's impressive.

[NZ255]

You on the left or right side?

[cowpatz]

Left if it's FD seats you are referring to.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jan 16 2015,5:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Left if it's FD seats you are referring to.

I can hear the "quick fill the bugger wanta get outta here real quick" You guys can keep the 'Krakatoa' of the late 1880s.

[NZ255]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jan 16 2015,5:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Left if it's FD seats you are referring to.

Yes, a little bit vague. Did that come with the 767 move?

[cowpatz]

QUOTE (NZ255 @ Jan 16 2015,5:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, a little bit vague. Did that come with the 767 move?

That was the only reason for the move.

[Splitpin]

Great post CP , its not every day you see an island being born .

[NZ255]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jan 16 2015,7:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That was the only reason for the move.

Well congratulations for that.

Thanks for the pics too.

[ZK-MAT]

Hiya

This is from a resort of Matafonua, on Ha'apai, situated near the volcano. The resort was wiped out in last years Cat 5 storm and they are rebuilding, I was there just after the tornado and stayed in what was left of the only other resort on the island. The guy there does some great aerial videos and posted this on their Facebook page...

Birth of an Island
so the volcano has been doing its thing since before christmas and boy has it been busy.
Its created a brand new island from beneath the ocean, 2 km long by 1 km wide and 100 meters high here is the latest picture of it





The Facebook page is here:

https://www.facebook.com/matafonualodge?fref=ts

[Ian Warren]

Thing we miss with photo is the sound.