Air Niugini F/O slots available. Read all about it today

[Tee Emm]

Just read today's `The Australian` newspaper, Aviation Supplement.

Nearly choked on my toast after seeing the Air Niugini advertisement for "suitably qualified first officers to join our expanding Dash 8, Q400 and F100 fleets".

Requirements: ATPL. 4000 hours aeronautical experience with 2500 hours on fixed wing aircraft which includes a minimum of 1000 hours command on multi engine aircraft as well as 100 night hours aeronautical experience.

All that lot to fly as a first officer on a turbo-prop based in Port Moresby. They must be dreaming.

My wife said all that experience is probably needed so the first officer can keep the captain safe...:ok:

[Chocks Away]

What's wrong with those hours, especially there?
Many are getting too used to/conditioned to the "Weetbix packet" licence and lack of hours and experience, I suspect.
It's no place for "nappies".
Are the terms & conditions offered suitably matched, or not mentioned?

[illusion]

The days of flying with "jungle bunnies" up there may be passed. You will find that a lot of the national cadets now have one and sometimes double degrees in engineering, computer science and related fields, studied in Australia.

I suggest most may be better educated and worldly than a lot of Anglo-saxons who denigrate them.

[SIUYA]

All that lot to fly as a first officer on a turbo-prop based in Port Moresby. They must be dreaming.

I'm pretty sure that the PX F100 that I travelled in last Friday afternoon from POM to BNE wasn't a turbo-prop. :confused:

My wife said all that experience is probably needed so the first officer can keep the captain safe...

Tee Emm...seems your wife may not be aware that there are some VERY switched-on and VERY competent PNG-National pilots, including those in LHS with PX on DHC-8, F100, and B767 operations.

As chocks away rightly stated, PNG isn't a place for "nappies".

[Bob Morane]

Me thinks Tee Emm 's wife is either ill Informed or suffers from a case of Bigotry.

[coco-nuts]

Didn't think a degree was an indicator that one could fly! I've flown with FO's with science degrees etc, who were hard pressed to know their 3 times maths for a descent profile.


cheers

coco

[illusion]

Coco,

Consider that these people are one or two generations from living in the stoneage. It is a wonderful thing to see the exponential development of some of these people over a few short decades.

One can only hope that their achievements will ever so slowly filter through the wider community and make PNG a safer, more productive society.

Would you prefer that or have another failed state in our region.

[SIUYA]

Thanks illusion...:D

Didn't think a degree was an indicator that one could fly!

Umm, I don't think there was any reference to a degree BEING an indicator (or otherwise) that one could fly, until you brought it up coco-nuts, so I'm really not too sure of what you're getting at. :confused:

[FarCu]

Interesting about cadets with degrees. Doubt it unless you refer to aviation theory as being a degree??
But one thing for certain, a lot of them are very good at their job.
And tee emm may well choke on his toast, but they pay as much, if not more than most other dash8 operators in the asia pacific region and conditions aren't as bad as some make out.

[greybeard]

In one of my previous lives, I had the privilage of training one of the PX F-100 crews in the Simulator in of all places Incheon in Korea.

The Captain was one of the most professional and competent people you could wish to train and the F/O was also for his exposure well ahead of the game in all areas.

These two are well into the management of the Flight Ops in PX and should be doing a great job.

Until you have been there, be kind to your fellow Pilots from afar.

:ok:

[avanti blade]

Thank-you for your wise words Greybeard.

Tee Emm.... as neville_nobody mentioned those where the norms in Australian airlines not that long ago.

There doesnt appear to be alot on offer in Aus at the moment it will be interesting to hear how many applicants they get.

[fmcinop]

Did my ATPL years ago. Walked into the room to see three PNG nationals sitting in the front row. We all laughed and made a few snide remarks about the fact that they had no chance of ever passing.

To say they kicked our asses topped the course and made the rest of us look stupid would be an understatement. They turned out to be three of the best guys I've met.

[Centaurus]

Having just had a quick glance at the post by Tee Emm I cannot see anything offensive. He/she makes the first point that the minimum hours required are far in advance of similar airlines with similar equipment. Indeed that is true. I understand that to get into Virgin Blue the applicant needs at least 500 hours multi - not necessarily in command. Looking at advertisements for first officers overseas often a total of 1000 hours or less are required. To qualify for Qantas and Jetstar with their larger aircraft my bet is there is no requirement of a min of 1000 command on ME types. If Air Niugini can get those people then bully for them.

The quip about looking after the captain was nothing more than a light hearted remark. Such observations are seen in newspaper cartoons every day albeit about other topical subjects. On the other hand it is good to note that Pprune contributors have such a high regard of local captains. Just beware of generalisations.

[Waghi Warrior]

Their requirements are high however they are really looking for people they can give quick command upgrades to,not people who are going to sit in the right seat for years.

They also mention nothing about age restrictions,however based on past recruiting they will take people up to the age of about 60,obviously with experience however not necessary with time on types or time in country. Getting people to be POM based will also be another major issue,especially how PX (mis)manage the accommodation for their staff.

[Ricky Bobby]

Entry requirements are flexible, depending on how desperate they are! In the past recruiting has been way behind the drag curve and won't start until crew numbers get critically short and flights cancelled, regardless of the ample notice rostering and the fleet captain's give them.

Upgrades have slowed dramatically from the past few years as expansion has slowed, looking at 3+ years now for a dash 8 classic command.

Right now flavour of the month with management is Moresby base. Only a govt owned business could get away with the logic of providing K10,000 a month in housing allowance rather than base crew in other domestic ports or overseas and commute them on company aircraft for a lot less than that a month. K10,000 soon won't be enough for a decent place either.

[geeup]

Now Ricky I hear the Crowne is nice this time of year :\
Anyone know the ball park pay?
Assuming it fulltime POM with 6 weeks annual leave :{

[Waghi Warrior]

What's the chance of direct entry Q400 captains ?

Looks like the PX maybe forced into this practice. From past history this isn't an ideal practice hiring DE Captains with no in country experience.

[geeup]

They could use direct entry Capts but it would be fraught with danger especially as they also use cadets and that combo would only end in tears.

Have PX got enough C&Ts to handle the new recruits?

[Waghi Warrior]

I totally agree with your first statement geeup.

This Q400 crewing issue is a direct result of an internal pay issue directed at senior experienced Classic Dash 8 captains, hence there is no incentive for these pilots to move onto the Q400.