PNG Conditions

[Captain Flak]

Hi all,
I'm contemplating going to PNG and was wondering if anyone can enlighten me as to the current state of affairs there. I refer to the political situation, the social climate and if anyone knows, the conditions at APNG. All help appreciated.

Cheers. :D

[Waypoint 74]

Captain Flak,
I went to PNG in 2000 and spent 2 interesting years there flying for an operator based in POM. In terms of getting work, the opportunities there are diminishing somewhat as the countrys ecomomy continues its downward spiral.I would strongly recommend you call as many operators as possible before purchasing an airticket north. There are few operators left that will employ "low-timers" (<1000hrsTT) and even fewer still that operate light piston twins. Most operators using Twotters/Bandits/Kingairs/Dash 8's & the like (with national F/O's).
One of the biggest hurdles that you face is to obtain the somewhat ellusive work-permit. The PNG Govn't trys where posssible to employ national's, keeping the number of w-permits issued to expats to a minimum.
I didn't have a problem with safety despite POM'S bad reputation for rascalism.The social life was pretty good too!!
The flying itself is great, with terrific scenery some interesting wx and challenging strips.
Good luck!!:D

[OzExpat]

I didn't have a problem with safety
Consider yourself VERY lucky!

[Captain Flak]

Waypoint,

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

OzExpat,

Sounds like your experiences had a different slant - care to elaborate?

Cheers :ok:

[OzExpat]

No CF, not really. Suffice to say that there's many others on this Bulletin Board who have had far worse experiences than I've had. You might find a completely different situation, but all I'm saying is that, if you're planning to go there, you need to keep your eyes open and your wallet out of easy reach!

And don't take any personal possessions with you that you can't afford to lose.

I think that, if you've got a chance of a job with APNG, you should take it. I haven't heard many horror stories and certainly none that have any basis other than vindictiveness. No job is ever going to be perfect but APNG can offer its pilots quite a wide variety of experience and promotion to different aircraft types.

Once you get past the culture shock, you'll find that the flying is going to be a real experience. Don't bother to get too tangled up in the political situation - it really hasn't changed all that much since I first arrived there in 1984.

[Taildragger]

Well Mate..... all I can say is don't take one more Kina in your pocket that you are willing to have robbed.
And don't take one more Meri than you are prepared to rob you, or give you the Pox/Aids/Weeping Pus balls/ than you can handle.
Make sure your medical insurance is up to date, make sure your Hepatitis jabs are in order, make sure you are wrapped in clingfilm and your wife/girlfriend has signed an affidavidavit.
If you think I am kidding, I will let others tell you I am exagerating.
I am not. Wrap your willie in concrete. Apart from that, the flying is fecking W O N D E R F U L. But, yer Willie, which takes over control from yer brain dictates the event.....and that's where the REAL danger in PNG lies.!!

[the wizard of auz]

Ozex had a bad experiance once in a japanese resty............ the saki was cold and the fish not as fresh as it should have been. ;) Oh and theres the willy thing :} ;)

[OzExpat]

Jealousy is a frightful curse wiz! :D But don't worry mate, when ya come up for that flyin visit, I'll see to it that you get yer black wings, just like the rest of us! :E

[the wizard of auz]

:E Um....... did you briefly forget where I live mate??? :}
Hows singas?,when you due back?.
Captain flak, mate, if you wanna go and have a look around, I am trying to get a couple of blokes to cost share a trip up there. PM me.

[faheel]

Hmmm Droops now that is a side of you I havent heard about, obvviously "she who must be obeyed" hasn't either! You will have to fill me in on the 20th!

[OzExpat]

Well, wiz, I admit to a certain amount of confusion coz yer "in" Perth so much! ;) But no mate, I didn't - it's a lot diffrent to yer local situation... mainly coz there's no Medicare to cover the subsequent treatment! :p

[the wizard of auz]

I believe I would be far safer drinking a cyanide soloution and then playing russian roulette than dipping ones wick in your territory mate, I might just enjoy the sites and resties I think.
;)
not in Perth as much nowadays....... gotta work to eat. :\

[Captain Flak]

Thanks for the info people. Much appreciated.

Wiz - Think I'll pass on the cyanide tho' .

Cheers all. :ok:

[OzExpat]

gotta work to eat. :\
Ahha, so yer not eating at the Y anymore huh? :{

[the wizard of auz]

;) do you remember my coey?? :ok:

working for fuel now ;)

[OzExpat]

How could I ever forget THAT coey? :ok: :E Does that equate to a promotion for the said coey?

[Sharpie]

Hi Keptin Flak.

Try and take all the good and the bad about the place in, sifting the wheat from the chaff! but my recommendation is if you have the opportunity to fly in PNG, take it. The flying is fantastic.

After 37 years in PNG, I do not have too many regrets, and over those years did not experience any violence against myself during events that included Okuk's deaths riot, (I flew his funeral entourage around the Highlands) the Sandline riots and a few other disturbances of note. The wife was held up at gunpoint once and her daily taking removed, her shop was ransacked around 12 times in one year, a car stolen, but apart from that, life was quite pleasant.

Reading the weekend NZ Herald newspaper, I note an article stating that one in three NZeders are affected by violence yearly. I think that Oz may be as bad and IMHO, PNG has not reached the degree of violence in southern countries.

Give it a go and even zexpat will give you a bed for a few nights to help you get your bearings.

:ok:

[Taildragger]

Faheel You will get nothing out of me. name Rank and Numba tasol. Not even under the influence of Sharpies best San Pig Pish.
I should try try Tiger, it has an unsettling influence on my Tongue. I assume you have warned them to go on ovetime. Oh....and by the way, what's this comment "A side of you I have never seen before".?? I have nightstopped with you in various places....remember.??
Oh yes...point of order....It is not "She who must be obeyed". It is "She who must be ignored"!! Did I really say that. ??
Wonder if she knows the frequency of PPRuNe.?
20th it is.

[Captain Flak]

Sharpie

37 years!!!! :hmm: That's a recommendation in itself. Thanks for the heads up. The feedback so far has been mostly positive and I imagine I will just have to find out first hand.


Thanks all.

:ok: