With the reduction of GA in PNG, a lot of the rural communities who don’t have coastal or road access have been cut off from the outside world. Certainly gone backwards, particularly since the demise of the larger third level operators in the early 2000s.
I believe helicopters are now doing some of the work that was once done by fixed wing aircraft, which is probably a lot more expensive, however they are a lot more practical particularly not requiring airstrips and also having the ability to long line freight to and from confined areas.
Are North Coast still operating?