On Monday, May 8, the flight team was able to transit from Yap to Palau.  The Palau airport is definitely busier and more accessible than Yap.  However, both Yap and Palau provided great service, even without private aircraft dedicated fixed base operators.

On Wednesday, May 10, the team attempted the sixth Mariana Islands and Palau flight (MIP 06), this time in the afternoon.  The cloud predictions appeared to be better and this afforded an opportunity to show the science team around the aircraft.  In addition, a film crew from HBO’s Vice show filmed the instrument startup procedure.  Twelve lines were collected including overflying the in-water optics team twice.

Favorable weather conditions shifted north, so on Friday, May 12, the team transited back to Guam to prepare for a Northern Mariana Islands flight.

On Saturday, May 13, the seventh flight was attempted (MIP 07), covering reefs around Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.  This was a re-flight with significantly better weather than the prior attempt.  Thirteen lines were collected, although four contained navigation errors.