Cyclone Erica started out as a tropical depression off the coast of Australia on March 1st and intensified into a Cat 2 cyclone before moving north and dissapating. Four days later Erica regenerated near the Soloman Islands and over the coming three days matured into a powerful CAT 5 cyclone as it tracked south, with New Caledonia firmly in it's sights. By the 13 March, landfall, or at least a close pass of New Caledonia was inevitable so I flew to Noumea on the last avaliable flight to intercept it. Timing was going to be tight. Erica was now approaching