PNG WAC/Topo Charts

[Eggman]

According to several map shops that used to sell PNG topographical aviation charts apparently the Australian Defence Force has tried to ban the sale of these charts from all retail outlets worldwide except PNG although the RAAF AIS advertises PNG ONC's. Some stores had to withdraw their stock from sale but others were still selling their last remaining stocks or bringing them in from mysterious sources. Two suppliers in Sydney were still selling a few of the PNG ONC's and TPC's last year for about A$20 each:
Concept Aviation Supplies, 621 Airport Avenue, Bankstown NSW 2200, [phone].
Map Centre Parramatta, 440 Church Street (Cnr Grose St), North Parramatta NSW 2151, [phone].
Several websites overseas still claim to sell PNG charts but possibly the cheapest source of 'current' charts these days may be the National Mapping Bureau in Moresby, located on Melanesian Way in Waigani, just up from the big pineapple. Most of the aeronautical info on these charts is about 1980 vintage, so if you want airstrip locations you'll find that many of the strips shown are now closed and of course all the 'new' strips are not shown but Bill Purcell has kindly put online his PNG Airstrip Guide 2001. According to the National Mapping Bureau they currently have all 4 PNG ONC's and most TPC's for K15 each, stocks are imported from the Australian Defence Force, overseas mail order is available for K5 per chart. They don't supply charts for West Papua but ONC M13 covers a fair bit of it although large chunks are blank and labelled 'Relief data incomplete'. The National Mapping Bureau also sells the complete PNG TPC set on CD-ROM, price on application. Geoscience Australia also advertises PNG topographical charts.
According to the NMB website their contact details are:
National Mapping Bureau,
PO Box 296,
Waigani, NCD,
Papua New Guinea.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]