Cyclone positive: Weather 'resets' Fraser Is landing strips
For Air Fraser Island pilots, destructive winds blown in by Cyclone Oma actually helped business
Fraser Coast
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FOR Air Fraser Island pilots, destructive winds blown in by Cyclone Oma actually helped business.
The reshaping of the eastern side of the island's beaches has cleared the previous build-up of soft sand which made landing the local company's light aircraft difficult.
"It was like hitting the reset button," pilot Ryan Schwenke said.
"It's left the beaches in almost perfect condition for us and cleaned the high tide landing area we were having trouble with.
"The only problem now is some exposed rocks up near the Happy Valley landing area and some debris."
Fellow pilot Josh Phillips said the company was only out of action for a few days.
"It's quiet season and there wasn't anyone here so it didn't affect us too much," he said.
"The inland tour buses were back operating without the beach component but that didn't help us very much."
Tourists flood back
NOT to be kept away from the call of adventure, tourists are beginning to filter back through to well-known attractions.
Holidaymakers were captured by the Chronicle floating down Eli Creek and snapping unique photos of the recently changed Maheno. A partial section of the rear of the iconic shipwreck site has been broken down in the storms.
For some it was a struggle to get lower-set vehicles up steep sandy inclines, while others simply gunned their motors and bounced up the cliff face.