Totegegie Airport

Totegegie Airport (IATA: GMR, ICAO: NTGJ) is an airport on Totegegie Island in the Gambier Islands, French Polynesia. It is 9 km northeast of the village of Rikitea.

Totegegie Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
ServesGambier Islands, French Polynesia
Is the closest airport to the Pitcairn Islands
LocationRikitea
Elevation AMSL7 ft / 2 m
Coordinates23°05′04″S 134°53′07″W
Map
GMR
Location of the airport in French Polynesia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12/30 2,000 6,562 Asphalt
Sources: French AIP[1]

Totegegie is one of Mangareva island's reefs, approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) from Rikitea, the island's administrative settlement. It has the only building on the reef. The airport is 1,652 km (1,027 mi) from Tahiti and is classified as a territorial aerodrome. Its only commercial service is to Tahiti's Fa'a'ā International Airport on Tuesdays.[2][3]

Totegegie Airport is crucial in its role as the outside world's link to Pitcairn Island. One of the few ways a traveler can reach Pitcairn is to fly to Tahiti, then to Totegegie. From there, a 32-hour boat ride will take one to Pitcairn.[3]

History

The 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) runway was constructed in 1967 by the 115th running of the Society of the Pacific Experimentation Centre Pacific (CEP). The first aircraft, a Piper Aztec, landed in 1968. The same year, a DC-6 performed weekly service between Totegegie, Mururoa and Papeete. In 1978, the first commercial air link was established between Totegegie and Papeete.[4]

The French army buildings were decommissioned in 1998. At the end of operations 50 tons of scrap metal had been collected.[5]

In 2008, the terminal was expanded and modernized.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
Air Tahiti Hao, Papeete[6]

Ground transportation

The airport is connected to Mangareva and its city Rikitea by boat.

From Mangareva there are boats going to Pitcairn Island, the main way of getting there.

Passengers

The increase in passenger numbers is shown below. [7]

Years 19981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017
Passengers 5,236 5,249 5,319 5,129 4,937 5,609 5,922 6,598 6,938 7,155 7,409 6,850 7,420 7,003 7,798 7,521 7,498 7,201 7,675 8,498

Wildlife

The shrub Pemphis acidula, is widespread on Polynesian atolls and is known locally as the 'miki miki'.

References
  1. NTGJ – TOTEGEGIE. AIP from French Service d'information aéronautique, effective 31 December 2020.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2012-06-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2012-06-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. http://gadper.free.fr/public/Polynesie/les_anciens_racontent/Construction%20de%20la%20piste%20de%20Totegegie%20en%201967-1.pdf
  5. http://www.moruroa.org/medias/pdf/T%C3%A9moignage%20Gambier%201967.pdf
  6. https://www.airtahiti.com/download-schedule
  7. https://www.aeroport.fr/view-statistiques/totegegie


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