Once upon a time there was Air Nauru.
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Must be a little concerned with the current Aus Govt....stopping the boats could curtail further expansion.
But credit where credit is due, not that many years ago the "fleet" (1 off) was reprocessed, however management has got it to to the expanding position it is now.
All the best.
But credit where credit is due, not that many years ago the "fleet" (1 off) was reprocessed, however management has got it to to the expanding position it is now.
All the best.
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Immigration work although a god send is only a fraction of their work. it has helped with upgrading the fleet but has only played a small part in their expansion. The company is very proactive and although not politically connected like some has earned a good reputation as a can do operator resulting in a good flow of charter work
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Lets get it right. The immigration work is the majority of their external work and that is running at 20% of what it was and can only decline further.
If you care to look at flight aware for their fleet for the last 4 months they are hardly working at any level that will sustain them with what they now have coming on line. The only saving grace they have is that the aircraft owe them nothing.
So given the competition from Skywest, Network and Alliance for any of the similar type work, they clearly will have a tough road expanding the business to cover the fleet.
As far as being politically connected who could be better connected than the government owned airline!
Good luck to them but I doubt that it will play out exactly as hoped.
If you care to look at flight aware for their fleet for the last 4 months they are hardly working at any level that will sustain them with what they now have coming on line. The only saving grace they have is that the aircraft owe them nothing.
So given the competition from Skywest, Network and Alliance for any of the similar type work, they clearly will have a tough road expanding the business to cover the fleet.
As far as being politically connected who could be better connected than the government owned airline!
Good luck to them but I doubt that it will play out exactly as hoped.
Last edited by Rudder; 2nd Aug 2014 at 00:20.
"If you care to look at flight aware for their fleet for the last 4 months they are hardly working at any level that will sustain them with what they now have coming on line"
I understand that Air Nauru, like Skytraders, have had the majority of their ops removed from display on Flight Aware so you can hardly rely on that as a definitive authority.
What, for example, does Flight Aware show them doing in VH-INU or VH-VLI yesterday? I couldn't find anything with my search ability but I'm willing to learn. I'm reliably informed that they did flights in those aircraft yesterday completely unrelated to the refugee work.
I understand that Air Nauru, like Skytraders, have had the majority of their ops removed from display on Flight Aware so you can hardly rely on that as a definitive authority.
What, for example, does Flight Aware show them doing in VH-INU or VH-VLI yesterday? I couldn't find anything with my search ability but I'm willing to learn. I'm reliably informed that they did flights in those aircraft yesterday completely unrelated to the refugee work.
Last edited by down3gr33ns; 2nd Aug 2014 at 00:53. Reason: spellink corexyun
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Considering a lot of the guys currently running the show have been there for years, helped the airline get back up after VH-RON was taken from them and in general have been in the airline game for decades, they have got an idea of what is indeed, what. I doubt they would be digging a hole for themselves, they have invested too much hard work into it.
It's a company that one day I would like to go and work for. Real flying. If you have ever dealt with them in any capacity, you'd know.
It's a company that one day I would like to go and work for. Real flying. If you have ever dealt with them in any capacity, you'd know.
Last edited by MyNameIsIs; 2nd Aug 2014 at 23:24.
"It was reported in the press last week that OA had only just removed the tracking"
There's your problem Rudder, you believe what you read in the press. Air Nauru, I'm advised, removed the majority of the tracking somewhat earlier than the alleged article suggests - more like the 4 months ago you alluded to and from which you concluded that they'd not been doing much due to the minimally reported activity since.
Airliners.com even has lots of photos of departures and arrivals that Flight Aware doesn't list.
And of my question re VH-VLI and VH-INU??? They certainly flew but I can't find it on Flight Aware - SO, I guess you're right, if it's not there then they're not doing much!!!
It's probably time you followed your own advice which was "Lets get it right".
There's your problem Rudder, you believe what you read in the press. Air Nauru, I'm advised, removed the majority of the tracking somewhat earlier than the alleged article suggests - more like the 4 months ago you alluded to and from which you concluded that they'd not been doing much due to the minimally reported activity since.
Airliners.com even has lots of photos of departures and arrivals that Flight Aware doesn't list.
And of my question re VH-VLI and VH-INU??? They certainly flew but I can't find it on Flight Aware - SO, I guess you're right, if it's not there then they're not doing much!!!
It's probably time you followed your own advice which was "Lets get it right".
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Flight Aware means nothing and only showed basically domestic operations when it was working months ago. It doesn't work in the Pacific region where a lot of their work is done. As for all their aircraft owe them nothing, I don't know where you get that idea as all recent purchases are wholly funded by the Airline and are not a gift. It amazes me how some quote things as fact when they don't even know what is correct although I suppose this is a rumour network. Rudder you are so wrong but it would appear you work for Skytraders and have an axe to grind. Why did they drop Flight Aware years ago, did they have something to hide? The business doesn't need to expand to cover the fleet as it is the other way around the fleet has expanded to cover the business.
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Centaurus, a bit of history from back in the late 60's. I was with Fiji Airways on the commercial side. We had Herons, DC 3s and a newly arrived HS 748. We set up the first scheduled service to Nauru with proving flights in the Herons then 748s', extending out from Tarawa, O/N Nauru.
In discussions with Hammer, who had been offered a fifth shareholding, didn't go to well in that he wanted to buy the whole of FJ outright. In those days we were owned by several Pacific Island nations and QF/BA. It was all or nothing for Hammer so no Pacific Island Consortium was formed to operate an airline. Still think it was a good idea but the Frog s where also a bit iffy.
FJs GM, crusty but straight, killed himself laughing when I gave him Hammers reply and that he had offered me the job of GM! if he could buy the whole of FJ. The discussions I might add where conducted in Hammers pig pens.
We did a bit of charter work for them to places like the Marshall's.
The Independent celebrations in 69 where fun with 2 Herk's, 2 DC4s 2 748s all arriving close behind one another. Cops on motor bikes clearing the runways, No ATC as the Radio was U/S. Having been co-opted to help sent our 748 off to Tarawa, Stopped the first Herk on the runway and asked him to act as ATC and inform the following A/C of the situation and to back himself onto the tennis courts with the other Herk. Having taken the skipper there by car to get his ok,TAAs 4 was taxied down to the school yard to park. QFs 4 parked in the admin area leaving room for the VIP A/C to land.
On our O/Ns we didn't stay in BPC quarters but at the wonderfully named " Virgins Castle "
As so many contemporaries are no longer with us great stories of PNG/Pacific Islands in the late 50s and 60s have been lost forever.
In discussions with Hammer, who had been offered a fifth shareholding, didn't go to well in that he wanted to buy the whole of FJ outright. In those days we were owned by several Pacific Island nations and QF/BA. It was all or nothing for Hammer so no Pacific Island Consortium was formed to operate an airline. Still think it was a good idea but the Frog s where also a bit iffy.
FJs GM, crusty but straight, killed himself laughing when I gave him Hammers reply and that he had offered me the job of GM! if he could buy the whole of FJ. The discussions I might add where conducted in Hammers pig pens.
We did a bit of charter work for them to places like the Marshall's.
The Independent celebrations in 69 where fun with 2 Herk's, 2 DC4s 2 748s all arriving close behind one another. Cops on motor bikes clearing the runways, No ATC as the Radio was U/S. Having been co-opted to help sent our 748 off to Tarawa, Stopped the first Herk on the runway and asked him to act as ATC and inform the following A/C of the situation and to back himself onto the tennis courts with the other Herk. Having taken the skipper there by car to get his ok,TAAs 4 was taxied down to the school yard to park. QFs 4 parked in the admin area leaving room for the VIP A/C to land.
On our O/Ns we didn't stay in BPC quarters but at the wonderfully named " Virgins Castle "
As so many contemporaries are no longer with us great stories of PNG/Pacific Islands in the late 50s and 60s have been lost forever.
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As so many contemporaries are no longer with us great stories of PNG/Pacific Islands in the late 50s and 60s have been lost forever.
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I used to operate to Nauru in the HS748 and on one occasion flew a Heron from Tarawa to Nauru and back when the 748 went u/s.
Those were the glory days when Nauruans were the richest people on Earth per head of population and the island was littered with wrecked Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Falcon GTHO's
Those were the glory days when Nauruans were the richest people on Earth per head of population and the island was littered with wrecked Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Falcon GTHO's
Thread Starter
Those were the glory days when Nauruans were the richest people on Earth per head of population and the island was littered with wrecked Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Falcon GTHO's
Thread Starter
While on the subject of humorous stories, take a look at Pprune Forum "Questions". The thread is about good and bad pilots. Very funny indeed.
http://www.pprune.org/questions/5443...ad-pilots.html
http://www.pprune.org/questions/5443...ad-pilots.html
OK, my pig story.
The President of Nauru often commandeered the 737 for his own use.
On this occasion it was to celebrate his birthday at Majuro, as he was connected to 'family' there.
When the birthday party eventually returned to the airport, they were accompanied by the most beat up truck you ever saw. It was so rotten with rust that the cab had no floor and no proper seats. Just a couple of plastic garden chairs held with fencing wire to what remained of the chassis below.
Anyway, in the back of the truck were half a dozen or so pigs which were the President's birthday present. Pigs are very highly prized in many Pacific cultures. Wives are traded for pigs in some places.
These pigs were not caged. The truck backed up to the aircraft hold and they were herded in and the door slammed shut. Not my problem, not my aircraft - if that's how they wanted to treat their only remaining asset, too bad, so sad.
However, on return to Nauru I conveniently 'forgot' to forewarn the bag snatchers of our cargo - to watch the fun that I reckoned was to come.
Of course, as soon as the cargo door was opened, out came the squealers and off they went in all directions. At this stage in Nauru's history, the populace was not exactly enamoured with their President, so only a very half hearted effort was made to round up the porkers. In fact, it is quite probable that more than a few found their way to lash-up feasts all around the island over the next few days with the President back to his chicken and rice. And deservedly so.
The President of Nauru often commandeered the 737 for his own use.
On this occasion it was to celebrate his birthday at Majuro, as he was connected to 'family' there.
When the birthday party eventually returned to the airport, they were accompanied by the most beat up truck you ever saw. It was so rotten with rust that the cab had no floor and no proper seats. Just a couple of plastic garden chairs held with fencing wire to what remained of the chassis below.
Anyway, in the back of the truck were half a dozen or so pigs which were the President's birthday present. Pigs are very highly prized in many Pacific cultures. Wives are traded for pigs in some places.
These pigs were not caged. The truck backed up to the aircraft hold and they were herded in and the door slammed shut. Not my problem, not my aircraft - if that's how they wanted to treat their only remaining asset, too bad, so sad.
However, on return to Nauru I conveniently 'forgot' to forewarn the bag snatchers of our cargo - to watch the fun that I reckoned was to come.
Of course, as soon as the cargo door was opened, out came the squealers and off they went in all directions. At this stage in Nauru's history, the populace was not exactly enamoured with their President, so only a very half hearted effort was made to round up the porkers. In fact, it is quite probable that more than a few found their way to lash-up feasts all around the island over the next few days with the President back to his chicken and rice. And deservedly so.
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One overnight spent in Nauru comes to mind.
In the wee hours of the morning and needing a nature call I groped in the dark for the light switch. Now I should point out that I was not sleeping in the room that had been allocated to me in the men’s quarters, but one in the “VirginsCastle” belonging to a young lady who had earlier wined, dined and entertained me in fine fashion.
Prior to sleep I had noticed a pull cord hanging down over the bed and assuming it activated the overhead light, I eventually located it in the dark and gave it a healthy pull.
The still of the night was immediately broken by the extremely loud wailing of a siren. Unfortunately it turned out that I had activated not the light, but the “Intruder Alarm”, which was quickly followed by a urgent knocking on the door by a member of the security patrol.
I spent the next few minutes concealed in the bathroom whilst my generous companion of the evening explained, how she had accidentally activated the alarm herself…
In the wee hours of the morning and needing a nature call I groped in the dark for the light switch. Now I should point out that I was not sleeping in the room that had been allocated to me in the men’s quarters, but one in the “VirginsCastle” belonging to a young lady who had earlier wined, dined and entertained me in fine fashion.
Prior to sleep I had noticed a pull cord hanging down over the bed and assuming it activated the overhead light, I eventually located it in the dark and gave it a healthy pull.
The still of the night was immediately broken by the extremely loud wailing of a siren. Unfortunately it turned out that I had activated not the light, but the “Intruder Alarm”, which was quickly followed by a urgent knocking on the door by a member of the security patrol.
I spent the next few minutes concealed in the bathroom whilst my generous companion of the evening explained, how she had accidentally activated the alarm herself…