Worst Place To Be A Pilot

[Stationair8]

Starting on SBS next Monday night at 2030.

[thorn bird]

Gawd!!!!... thats a no brainer.

[mary meagher]

Excellent series, we've seen it a few months ago...and makes me want to fly there! proper challenging, interesting locals in native undress, and the approach decorated with the odd wreckage scattered en route... The approach down the mountain valley with no way out is especially interesting...

[Pinky the pilot]

proper challenging, interesting locals in native undress, and the approach decorated with the odd wreckage scattered en route... The approach down the mountain valley with no way out is especially interesting

Yawn! Sounds like a typical day in PNG.

It was, anyway. Albeit a long time ago.

And I'd be a liar if I said I didn't miss it!:{:{

Think this show is in Irian Jaya but will still be interesting.:ok: IIRC I was told that both the highest and steepest strips were in that part of the world.

Tailwheel would know I should think.

[Berealgetreal]

United Sates?

[ghyde]

Good show.

British based with mainly ex-pat British pilots.

Filmed in Papua.

Avail on youtube if you can't wait.

[Nibbles2310]

Watched it on YouTube a month or so ago and rather enjoyed it.

Unlike other shows such as bush pilots; it depicts the plane as a tool for survival and in fact as the (only) link to modern society for some of those remote communities which I thought was a rather unique.

[27/09]

I posted this on another thread that ran in the Spectators Balcony section of PPRUNE last year when this show first aired.

Not a bad watch, but very over hyped at times.

There's certainly a lot of journalistic licence been used in the making of the show.

I would take a lot of what the narrator says with a grain of salt.

[Left_Pedal]

Well it's certainly better than the over-dramatised commentary of Air Rescue.

That's also a great show but so much better with the volume OFF!

[skywagondriver]

An excellent foray into flying in Indonesia with the emphasis on adventure in the 'last frontier' - maybe just a little hyped but not as much as other aviation reality shows.

It's nearly 45 years since I was flying in PNG, haven't been back, but last year I was fortunate enough to spend three weeks flying around in the right seat of a Porter to some of the strips in West Papua - what a blast :)

I'd give anything to be back in that environment again...pre-dawn departure, high transit [sometimes very high] in the gathering dawn, an arrival into the first strip almost at first light, throw the cargo and pax out, new ones in and back to Timika for some noodles and then the next flight...

The feeling that you have done something really useful...

Don't understand why they have to get most of their crew from Europe... a few Kiwis there, but what happened to the Antipodian sense of adventure :)



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[Pinky the pilot]

Struth!! :}

Turbine Aircraft!:cool:

Full IFR Glass panels!!:ooh:

No beat up, high time BN2s or C206s with suspect engines and no navaids!:eek:

Looooxury!!!!!

[Ultralights]

good series, not full of the American fake drama crap, though there is a little bit,

shame the series ended.



to be honest, the first thing that popped into my head was "Worst place to be a Pilot" oh, must be something to do with CASA!

[Aussie Bob]

Fantastic shots Skywaggondriver! Thanks.

w Kiwis there, but what happened to the Antipodian sense of adventure

The Antipodian sense of adventure was squashed by safety regulators and the pathetic public who listened. No one wants to employ nannies.

[RadioSaigon]

No one wants to employ nannies...

oooh there's a few of us here Bob -more from the Eastern Antipodes than the West Island, but we're well better represented than perhaps the producers would prefer you believe ;-) Most of the "nannies" tend to hail from points well further North -speaking very generally, the environment is well out of the comfort zone of many!

Fetch-up at the Nabire Social Club of a Saturday evening, you may well be surprised!

[Aussie Bob]

Fetch-up at the Nabire Social Club of a Saturday evening, you may well be surprised!

I am sure I would be but would the majority be over 40?

[RadioSaigon]

Not at all, although a few of us are... ages range from late teens to well into the 50's!

[lilflyboy262...2]

Ah the Nabire Social Club!

I do miss that place. Maybe I'll be back in a few months.

There is plenty of Aussies and Kiwis in West Papua.

[mary meagher]

skywagondriver, your photos are absolutely beautiful, they make the adventure of flying in this "worst place" quite real. Flying an airbus from LHR to Washington Dulles has to be a very very boring way to live by comparison.

There are flying hours, and there is flying experience. The two are not the same at all.

[josephfeatherweight]

That CP, Vas, or whatever-his-name-is, is a bit nasty!

[alisoncc]

Tapini c1970. Solo nav exercise for PPL.

On approach.
http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/tapini3.jpg

South Pacific Aero Club Cherokee 180. After breathing sigh of relief.
http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/tapini.jpg

[ranmar850]

Solo nav exercise for PPL--makes my jaunt around the WA wheatbelt look a bit tame!!!

[alisoncc]

Weren't that many places to go out of Moresby. Did go on to bigger and better things, but good place to start.

Another of the strip at Tapini. I have a recollection of an RAAF Caribou, minus legs, close to the "piano keys".
http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/tpng7.jpg

Early Nav Ex, accompanied, to Popondetta via Kokoda. Didn't have a problem then with locals on the strip. There was sign that said they shouldn't.
http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/tpng10.jpg

There were rumours of Japanese still hiding out from WWII up there.
http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/tpng8.jpg

Suspect Jackson's Field has changed a bit. The SPAC end.
http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/tpng9.jpg




http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/tpng008.jpg

[Capn Rex Havoc]

Found this on youtube - Years before worst place to be a pilot :ok:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcmabmOJvh4

[skywagondriver]

Dr Oakenfold - yes it was, and it was a bloody good time :)

It was great to be there, watching the next generation, doing what I did almost 45 years ago. Bitter sweet in some respects as it leaves you with a yearning for adventures past.

[alisoncc]

SWD, were you with Malarial Tours doing the Kiunga/Ningerum shuttle or elsewhere?

[Pinky the pilot]

Interesting clip there Capn Rex.:ok:

Recognised a few of the strips. Pity about the soundtrack though.:hmm:

I turned that off after a short while.

[allthecoolnamesarego]

Skywagondriver,

I might be wrong, but if you are the father of the young lad flying the Porter around, what are his plans? Going to stay on or move back to Europe?

I know what I'd do.... That flying looks amazing, and I doubt he will EVER enjoy flying anywhere as much as he does in the mountains.

If I could be so bold as to offer him advice, it would be: Do what you love doing, not what others think you should do.


Safe flying!

Coolnames

[LowPassGliderA330]

"the worst place to be a pilot"

I first thought they would make a show about EK:}:8:}:}:}:}:} +

[skywagondriver]

alisoncc - spent most of my PNG time in various locations with Crowley. Did get to Kiunga but not on shuttles.

allthecoolnamesarego - I respect your advice, as I am sure he would - the flying is fantastic there and what you say is true...however, he has just recently 'moved on'.
It was a bit of a misnomer calling him 'British' - sounds like one :) but was born and grew up in HK until he went to school in the UK.His mum spent some time in PNG years ago as well so it was great to see him in that area.

[josephfeatherweight]

Skywagondriver - you've got a great kid there! You must be a proud Dad. What a nice fellow and he looked like he knew what he was doing! Awesome!

[alisoncc]

alisoncc - spent most of my PNG time in various locations with Crowley. Did get to Kiunga but not on shuttles.I was there when Kennecott were doing the survey work for Ok Tedi. All of their kit went via Aerial Tours BN2A's. Personally got into Garaina and Mount Hagen, through to Daru and other nasty places. Known by ex-pats as The Septic.

Was there when a front page story in the Moresby Post? reported that the Head Kiap had stated that the whole of Papua was now cannibal-free. But not all of us believed him. :O

[allthecoolnamesarego]

Skywagondriver,

From what was aired on TV, your son came across as a mature, level headed bloke who really loves his flying. I am sure you are very proud of him. What an experience it would have been for father and son to spend time together doing some fantastic flying.

I wish him all the best with his future. With dedicated professionals like your son our industry is in good hands.

Coolnames

[Kulwin Park]

Excellent show. Refreshing to show the juniors at entry level, instead of the airline crap that is repeated too much.
The scenery is amazing! Some places I'd love to visit one day.
Cheers, KP

[alisoncc]

3rd episode on this evening - SBS 8:30pm AEST.

[Dora-9]

Skywagondriver:

PM sent

[Stikybeke]

A top show.....

Quite a few older (and not so older!!) and bolder Q drivers did their early days up there and so it's not any wonder that such flying experience is highly regarded when it becomes time!!

Surely ,any new pilot who is really serious about his / her aviation career could only benefit immensely from such an experience if they could score such a gig!!.

For those of you that have, I salute your journey!. You are no doubt a far safer pilot and a better person as a result of the invaluable lessons of life learned!.

I often wish that I'd been there and done that!!!

Stiky
:ok:

[Stanwell]

Just one word, Stiky..
Amen.

[ACMS]

Enjoyed the show.

He said his C208 didn't have all the luxuries of a jumbo??? Looked pretty damn good setup to me, as good as most jumbos I've flown. Apart from the low level flying single engine threats etc he has the same wx radar, TCAS TAWS that we have.....

[Global Aviator]

Yep a bit better equipped than the 1976 C402, 1972 B58, etc that a lot of us had the real pleasure to fly.

Ahhh a van with color TVs working AP and wait for it Aircon!!! What more luxuries Ya need to fly around the bush.

Great flying and a pity every new pilot can't have some fun doing it, even in a 2 crew campervan.

[Pinky the pilot]

He said his C208 didn't have all the luxuries of a jumbo??? Looked pretty damn good setup to me

Thought the same thing actually. It makes me wonder how he would have coped with the high-time BN2s that many blokes flew around the PNG landscape.

The ones I flew mostly had no navaids at all! And if there were any they never worked. Single pilot, and I have never heard of a Bongo Van with an autopilot!
Flying could be dodgy at times, cruising up valleys with cloud covering the terrain above you, turning up the 2nd/3rd/whatever valley to the left/right three minutes after passing a particular village/whatever.

And I only experienced a bit of that sort of flying. Chimbu Chuckles could write a book on his time there! Dammit Chuck, where are ya?

Yes it's a good show, but I really am irritated by some of the commentary and a quiet voice inside me occasionally uses the phrase
'Get some in!'

[maverick22]

I'm curious about the 'cultural difference' which led to old mate being stood down for a while :ooh:

[ACMS]

Yes and that TCAS TA they received flying near Medan in the C208.

What a lot of drama queens!!

Get a TA, look at the screen and funnlly enough you can see where the traffic is and his relative Altitude. They made it seem overly dramatic!!

If they couldn't see the traffic visually or their screen doesn't show it then surely they should have asked ATC or called the traffic on the VHF to separate themselves?

Looked good for the TV I guess..:D

[Duck Pilot]

Not sure that I'd be comfortable flying a single around in that environment. Great doco and hats of to the guys and girls doing it up there. Are there any Ozzies flying for Susi Air?

[mcgrath50]

Are there any Ozzies flying for Susi Air?

Heaps of them :ok:

[Fantome]

Mike Findlay flew for the old Airlines of Tasmania , late 80s
Another real gentleman

He jagged a job on a Twotter, West Irian.
He and his off-sider were murdered

Never heard back any details

[alisoncc]

Thought the same thing actually. It makes me wonder how he would have coped with the high-time BN2s that many blokes flew around the PNG landscape.

The ones I flew mostly had no navaids at all! And if there were any they never worked. Single pilot, and I have never heard of a Bongo Van with an autopilot!They even have GPS to tell them where they are - what luxury. For many it was a thumb out the window to gauge the wind speed - even wind socks were a rarity, then an E6-B. Used to set up waypoints, using occasional village, river crossing or geographic feature.

[Stationair8]

How does one progress onto the Porter at Susi Air?

[Captain Nomad]

By not crashing a Caravan?! :E

[lilflyboy262...2]

Nah, if you can crash a van safely then it's all good for promotion!

You just have to stick around for long enough. A lot of the guys either don't want the porter, or leave before they get the seniority.
The porter life really is a lifestyle! Different contracts and much better money to the van drivers.

To all the old pilots who flew before us and pioneered the paths through those mountains... we thank you immensely!

We fly those exact paths that you once flew, we follow the safe altitudes that you once flew, and we read the aerodrome bible thats been passed down year after year with the escape routes and payload figures.

Except now its all programmed into a G1000 and we just have to follow the magenta line. Leave that at your own peril. Sometimes it stays on autopilot, following the vertical path in right until flaps go down.
Of course we learn the area that we are in so we know all the valleys etc etc, but when the weather craps out, we now have a safe way out... in Garmin we trust.

[Massey058]

As a relative "old timer", not quite. Crashing a van safely is a new one though!

As for the Porter being more money, while not that it is necessarily important to those who wish to fly it, it's not really the truth. More and more the contracts and even to an extent the lifestyle is the same. It is the cockpit, capability and gear configuration that differs.

I'm sure your tongue was firmly in cheek but following the pretty magenta line has over the last decade or so (well since the advent of the magenta line really) proven to be fatal. Old-fashioned navigation techniques still come pretty in handy even with all the fluff of the G1000.

[Centaurus]

Having flown a few trips during the 1960's era of RAAF Dakota and HS748 operations in PNG, I must say I enjoyed watching the scenery bits of the TV show. Pity, though about the commentary and concocted bulls**t drama being overdone.

[27/09]

Pity, though about the commentary and concocted bulls**t drama being overdone.

I'll second that.

[Old Fella]

Having spent several years as a F/E on C130 operations in the PNG/New Britian area I think anyone who flys there, whether in a Single or Multi, earns their keep. If ever the adage that "There are no Old Bold Pilots in PNG, the Bold ones are in the side of a mountain or in the trees" needed any explanation the TV show reinforces it. The weather can turn in an instant and the clouds can suddenly be full of earth and many of those airstrips would test any pilot. Hats Off to the people who operate there, whether they have modern aids or not.

[ad-astra]

I think you will find that was 'background music' that the producers insert to make the clip so much more interesting.

Akin to watching a film of a 206 starting up and having the sound of a turbine winding up.

Having spent a lot of time in PNG with GPWS available we became very aware of what we could and could not accept or ignore.

[Pinky the pilot]

Well; The final part was shown last night and my overall impression was that whilst it was put forward as a 'documentary,' (I guess) I would class the show as 'Infotainment.'

Just a few too many things overdone.

Scenery was great though. And a couple of the bush strips reminded me of such strips as Sopu, Ononge, Kaintiba and a few others. Cannot now remember the name of the place but there was at least one strip N/E of Moresby where the whole circuit was flown in the adjacent valley out of sight of the strip, and as soon as you turned base you were committed!:eek:

The strip only came into view on short final.

Good luck to the blokes!:ok:

[ACMS]

So was there only 4 episodes made? Was that the last one?

Oh, I quite enjoyed watching apart from the sensational clap trap added by the editors.

[tipsy2]

I turned the volume down after episode 1.

The scenery, the strips and the weather is the same as it is east of the border.

Still it was good to watch in silent mode.

Oh what I would have given for a Porter rather than a clapped out 182/185/206.

As for the whizbang panel, what luxury.

Tipsy.

[skywagondriver]

dehg5776 -you make a very valid point that wasn't lost on me while I was there and I was concerned.
Hopefully, as one of the protagonists is on a 'jet' course it will be erased from his mind set :)

[skywagondriver]

Of course the series wasn't meant for aviation gurus but for the general public so there was always the danger of it being overdramatised in some people’s opinion...

Hopefully it has encouraged some of the younger generation to fly, what with its mixture of adventure and aviation.

Flying there is different in many ways from the old days in PNG – Papua-Indonesia is definitely not PNG and hats off to the boys and gals flying there...

I'm probably in an ideal position to sling off about them regarding the 'old days' and huff and puff about their supposed 'luxuries' but unless you've been there and seen the operation I’d say cut them a bit of slack.:)

[Stationair8]

It would be good to do a follow up on in five years to see where some of the pilots have progressed in their careers.

[IFEZ]

Indeed. Hats off to them I say. Pretty gutsy, flying in those conditions. Very challenging both in the air & on the ground. The G1000 doesn't help when the natives get restless..! Be interesting to see how many of them have moved on to their dream job and how many decided to stay.

[IFEZ]

Sorry StationAir, bit of overlap there! Great minds and all that..:ok:

[ACMS]

I'll ask again...

Are there only 4 episodes?

[fencehopper]

Yes apparently only four
Worst Place to Be a Pilot (TV Mini-Series 2014) - Episodes - IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4089534/episodes?season=1&ref_=tt_eps_sn_1)