Air Niugini Dash 8-400 on delivery from Germany

[Mumbai Merlin]

The second Dash 8-400 for Air Niugini will arrive in a day or two.
OY-YCY will become P2-PXR, according to PNG register.
Certainly more reliable than the Fokker 100's.
Departed Saarbrucken in Germany two days ago.

[minigundiplomat]

Should have have held out - there will be 7 ATR-72 doing nothing next door very soon.

[chimbu warrior]

The second Dash 8-400 for Air Niugini

Not strictly correct. They had 6 of them previously and disposed of them.

[Mumbai Merlin]

Chimbu, you are correct, but that does not count in PX, as it was a decision made by previous management.
So we must re-invent the wheel! Ha Ha :}

[BANANASBANANAS]

Apologies for slight thread drift here but I am interested in a pilot position with Air Niugini as / when they recruit again. Main attraction is the age I can continue flying to (I am 58) and that they offer commuting contracts on the F100 - I only have B777 rating on EASA licence.. I am British but I live in Malaysia so KUL could be a good option. Salary figures I have seen don't look flash at all but I am aware that my info could be (and probably is) well out of date.

Can anyone fill me in on the current situation with Air Niugini and maybe even give their opinions on prospects of employment there in 2021.

Thanks in advance.

[Seaeagle109]

Air Niugini announced recently that the commuting contracts are/will change to 12 weeks On/ 4 weeks Off. One day off a week when you’re On. With the current Covid quarantine restrictions in country you’ll be doing 7 or 14 days(in your own time, I think) before you start your 12 weeks, so if you’ve got to quarantine(in your own time) when you return home, it doesn’t leave any time out of quarantine to enjoy being home.

[BANANASBANANAS]

Thanks for the info,

Yes, that isn't great - but then neither is being unemployed. What would your thoughts be on bringing the family with me to PNG?

[minigundiplomat]

It depends on how adventurous they are. Some families love it, but I would say 80% are out of there before 6 months is up, and I would seriously research healthcare and schools (including affordability - POM is one of the most expensive places on the planet).

[Office Update]

Bananas, Clearly you have not done any homework on PNG. The country is in turmoil with politics and corruption along with out of control violence. Law and order as we know it in a civilized world is virtually non existent.
I'm not aware from my contact that PX are seeking to recruit direct entry captains, especially not checked on type. PX do have their own national cadet scheme.
At present PX has pilots on extended leave, the B767 and 737 fleet is vastly under utilised. I cannot image from the lofty heights of a B777 you would be happy being a Dash 8 pilot. The Fokker 100 fleet is tired and unreliable. PX has Fokker 100 airframes which are stripped for spare parts. Dash 8-400 are the better bet.
Accomodation for a family is mega expensive; employment permits difficult and extremely expensive to obtain. Personal security is a challenge, expat females need to be very very wary about their own security at all times.
You can save yourself of time by applying to the company for the most likely inevitable answer.

[Mangi Fokker]

BANANASBANANAS, 90% of PX's B737 fleet is on extended Leave Without Pay, 40% of PX's Fokker Fleet is on extended Leave Without Pay. Your not type endorsed and you have no previous PNG flight experience.
Respectfully Sir, "Your dreaming".

[Duck Pilot]

With the large number of stood down PNG national pilots currently doing it extremely tough at the moment due to all the obvious reasons, I recon any newly hired expat pilot in PNG, particularly without any significant PNG experience or without any highly sought after skills will be very unwelcome. I doubt the labour department will issue them with a work permit anyway, even if they are hired.

[BANANASBANANAS]

Thanks for all the above info. My interest was triggered by an email from a recruiting agency which stated NTR DEC for F100 was an option. Clearly it isn't or, if it is, is likely not desirable.

Thanks for the input.