Air Niugini's subsidiary - LINK PNG
Court update.
At the last hearing on the 7th parties were ordered to serve documents on each other and the next court date set for 12th October.
As for the 6 National pilots terminated the company has tried to evict them from their accommodation and it is rumoured that the cadets involved have been asked by the world's best HR manager to forfeit their licenses.
There has been an application yesterday to have a restraining order to stop the company from proceeding with the evictions.
There has also been an approach to a MP to intervene on behalf of the pilots so there is a three pronged attack, court, department of labour and political.
At the last hearing on the 7th parties were ordered to serve documents on each other and the next court date set for 12th October.
As for the 6 National pilots terminated the company has tried to evict them from their accommodation and it is rumoured that the cadets involved have been asked by the world's best HR manager to forfeit their licenses.
There has been an application yesterday to have a restraining order to stop the company from proceeding with the evictions.
There has also been an approach to a MP to intervene on behalf of the pilots so there is a three pronged attack, court, department of labour and political.
So the CEO is more important than the travelling public.
F/O on the Rabaul flight called in sick but there was no coverage so the F/O from the Cairns flight was told to do the Rabaul flight. The CEO departed 10 minutes late. As for the Cairns flight? Who cares!
F/O on the Rabaul flight called in sick but there was no coverage so the F/O from the Cairns flight was told to do the Rabaul flight. The CEO departed 10 minutes late. As for the Cairns flight? Who cares!
PX operate to Moro and Oil Search pay PX for the hard lying allowance however PX in their wisdom decided to pocket this instead of paying the pilots the allowance. Oil Search have recently been advised and the sh!t hit the fan. PX, red-faced, now pay the allowance.
From a senior Boeing Captain the company has not had anyone applying for a job......... Wonder why?
From a senior Boeing Captain the company has not had anyone applying for a job......... Wonder why?
Just in:
Report from the PX awards night..
And the award for worlds best HR manager goes to….
RL!!!!!
Hip hip
Who? Ray?
Hip hip
Who? Ray?
Worlds best 3rd world airline management team
Goes to…
TooFar HooRay Pty Ltd….
There was an Invisible CP award but he didn’t appear to be there…
Report from the PX awards night..
And the award for worlds best HR manager goes to….
RL!!!!!
Hip hip
Who? Ray?
Hip hip
Who? Ray?
Worlds best 3rd world airline management team
Goes to…
TooFar HooRay Pty Ltd….
There was an Invisible CP award but he didn’t appear to be there…
It's been a busy place with news.
From a very reliable source:
A 767 guy crewed a flight from SE Asia whilst terminated, only problem is PX forgot to tell him until he landed that he was terminated. Pity the date of the termination letter was dated earlier than the flight. CASA and the CP have not become involved. Heard the fleet manager is a tad upset.
And from another very reliable source:
The PM is very annoyed that his jet has only had 2 pilot's available to fly him around since 2014. PX have not recruited since the departure of the fleet manager back then. One goes sick the plane sits on the ground which has happened on a number of occasions very recently. Source says they will not pay market rate so cannot even get casuals.
And last one for the day, there was supposed to be a F100 ground school starting today but there is no-one on the ground school. Instructor sent back to Brisbane. Maybe if any nutter applies they may run the ground school.
Rumour also has it that ICAO may be visiting soon but that is yet to be confirmed.
From a very reliable source:
A 767 guy crewed a flight from SE Asia whilst terminated, only problem is PX forgot to tell him until he landed that he was terminated. Pity the date of the termination letter was dated earlier than the flight. CASA and the CP have not become involved. Heard the fleet manager is a tad upset.
And from another very reliable source:
The PM is very annoyed that his jet has only had 2 pilot's available to fly him around since 2014. PX have not recruited since the departure of the fleet manager back then. One goes sick the plane sits on the ground which has happened on a number of occasions very recently. Source says they will not pay market rate so cannot even get casuals.
And last one for the day, there was supposed to be a F100 ground school starting today but there is no-one on the ground school. Instructor sent back to Brisbane. Maybe if any nutter applies they may run the ground school.
Rumour also has it that ICAO may be visiting soon but that is yet to be confirmed.
Duck Pilot these are pretty close based on a/c arrivals and crew departures.
767 x 2
737 x 3
F100 x 7
F70 x 9 (when all delivered)
Dash x 7
Q400 x 1
Pilots 175
Fokker crewing levels close to 2.4
767 x 2
737 x 3
F100 x 7
F70 x 9 (when all delivered)
Dash x 7
Q400 x 1
Pilots 175
Fokker crewing levels close to 2.4
Last edited by olderairhead; 16th Sep 2016 at 01:34.
Heard from a mate at an East Coast Fokker operator that they have been approached to provide training Captains to PX.
They desperately need additional crew and also have no-one to train them so killing 2 birds with 1 stone.
Source could not confirm employment contract details but suggestion is it will not be the current contract, nor could it be confirmed length of contract.
Will be interesting to see if any of them accept this fantastic offer to work for a third world deteriorating so called airline.
They desperately need additional crew and also have no-one to train them so killing 2 birds with 1 stone.
Source could not confirm employment contract details but suggestion is it will not be the current contract, nor could it be confirmed length of contract.
Will be interesting to see if any of them accept this fantastic offer to work for a third world deteriorating so called airline.
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If you have safety concerns with PNG operators particularly with the lack of or ineffective oversight by the PNG regulator and they operate into Australia and hold and Australian foreign AOC you can confidentially report via the ATSB's confidential reporting system. https://www.atsb.gov.au/voluntary/repcon-aviation/
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To any East or West coast Focker operators. Please remember that Air Niugini is in an industrial dispute with both the PNGAPA and NAPU. This dispute as I understand is also supported by the IFALPA and AFAP.
I hear the F100 has now got approval to operate to Micronesia at night using Tokua (AYTK) as the alternative. Have CASA PNG approved a F100 or two for EDTO operations?
Tokua as an alternate with the ash problems, unrealiable WX forcasts and lighting, put together with no precision approaches, potentially at night - what are they thinking apart from the dollars?
Tokua as an alternate with the ash problems, unrealiable WX forcasts and lighting, put together with no precision approaches, potentially at night - what are they thinking apart from the dollars?
Last edited by Duck Pilot; 16th Sep 2016 at 21:46.
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The rats are right into the Swiss cheese at Air Niugini. The holes are getting bigger and bigger. But don't worry - the management team have morning prayers at their daily morning meeting - Jesus will protect you all guys - fear not - onward and upward - now where is that MEL?
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Like a number of operations at the PNG national carrier unfavourable internal risk assessments are either ignored or the messengers shot down in flames. Just the turnover in staff and managers in the safety and quality departments is evidence of this. A very cosy relationship exists between PX and CASA PNG ("The Fiji connection")Approving a Fokker 100 for EDTO/ETOPS beyond a nominal 75 minutes would indeed be problematic and on the bounds of legality as the Aircraft was never approved or certified for such operations and is unsupported by the original manufacturer or its successors. It is no secret that PX has very marginal ETOPS operations for example its B737 operation RJAA-AYPY where the use AYNZ as the final ETOPS alternate. While on paper AYNZ may tick the boxes in practical and real terms it does not. Numerous safety reports by flight crew pertaining to that operation and many other serious safety events have been ignored by both PX and CASA PNG. This is just one example. There is much to be said about the ineffectiveness of the box ticking that goes on in Audits such as IOSA and organizations such as PX gaining BARS gold standard from what is written in their manuals and not what happens in practicality. All that can really be said in the end is that safety of the travelling public is being compromised by the shortcuts taken by unprofessional and ill-informed management and ineffectual and corrupt oversight from the regulator.
Last edited by tripelapidgeon; 18th Sep 2016 at 10:17. Reason: typo
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Got you sighted….
“To any East or West coast “Fokker” operators. Please remember that Air Niugini is in an industrial dispute with both the PNGAPA and NAPU. This dispute as I understand is also supported by the IFALPA and AFAP.”
Tru, the two ANG Pilot Bodies have to date paid an extraordinary large sum of money in legal fees in order to contest what both organizations see as not only unjust, but a managerial “take it or leave, no consultation/no negotiation” attitude”. ANG will have paid much more to defend its perceived right to do what it wants.
That Court action drags on and when it will finish is anyone’s guess. By all accounts it is a bitter dispute.
HOWEVER, for every Australian East/West Coast Fokker Captain that is considering a PX Contract, there would be at least 20 PX Fokker Captains (and other jet fleet Captains as well) standing in line wanting your job as soon as it was vacant. As for PX First Officer Fokker jobs, actually lets just make that PX First Officer jobs, well there will be a continual supply of those positions for quite some time.
Olderairhead….
“To paraphrase he mentions aircraft numbers.”
In respect to the Fokker Fleet, I think at the moment there are about 11 Fokker 70/100’s. The pilot numbers are hard to work out due to the recent sackings of Captains and First Officers but there would be around 23 – 26 F100/70 Captains. That number includes both the Check and Management Captains. There is still more F70’s to arrive. The shortage of crew is not just a Fokker fleet problem; hence Fokker’s on the HIR, NAN and VLI routes, which are B737 routes, DH8’s (classic and -400’s) on Fokker Routes etc.
It would seem that by necessity the schedule has been reduced to suit the pilot numbers as opposed to being increased to suit the number of arriving aircraft. Kind of handy for engineering tough, plenty of scope for XMAS trees to get parts from.
Duck Pilot….
“I hear the F100 has now got approval to operate to Micronesia at night using Tokua (AYTK) as the alternative. Have CASA PNG approved a F100 or two for EDTO operations?”
Haven’t heard of any EDTO (or even ETOPS) approvals, but those Fokker guys flying the routes are told that all ops are within 60 minutes of a suitable alternate. In addition to Tokua, Kaviang (KVG) is also available as an alternate, and of course TKK for PNI and vice versa. GUM is available with a precision approach at about 550 miles from TKK, admittedly in the wrong direction.
Tripelapidgeon….
Sounds like you have experienced working for a PNG SOE. For those not familiar SOE (State Owned Enterprise), means that the PX Government owns and in all probably (practicality?) has a lot to do with the direction the Company takes, or does not take.
Olderairhead…. (again)
“This week the number of departed since the introduction of the current contract has hit 93.”
That number would include one or two deaths, 3 or 4 compulsory age retirees, couple of failures, retrenchments (ha-ha, smart move that one!!), and more recently, quite a few sackings. The ANG seniority list would be around the 160-180 mark (6 fleets)
A figure of about 50+ Expats is bandied around as having left solely due to the 2015 Contract. That is a large percentage of the expats that were present at the end of 2014. And in just about every case each has gone on to a much better and more family friendly job. Apparently there are few (NO) regrets from those that left.
Prior to that 2015 Contract the resignation rate was quite negligible, satisfaction was high and conditions were good. Then the 2015 Contract was drafted, a total disconnect initiated by HR to the Pilot Group and the “take it or leave it as you are all replaceable attitude” became the norm, preceded of course by the change of management that occurred prior to the change to that attitude.
A new Contract is due by around April next year…there has been no contact whatsoever with the pilot groups as to what the T & C’s will contain. Most surmise it will be worse.
In a recent ANG Paradise editorial, it was stated: “In meeting the challenges and opportunities ahead, we are underpinned by confirmation of our outstanding safety records over 43 years of service to the nation.”
Perhaps mention could have been made of the experienced PX pilots who operate in some pretty difficult conditions have underpinned that safety record, of which there are now 93 less than there was only 2 and a bit years ago, (which would equate to losing something well over1/2 a million flying hours plus, with a large extent of that “Pee N Gee time”).
Good luck to all ye that still sail in the good ship Pixie, hopefully the tide shall turn and fair winds will abound.
“To any East or West coast “Fokker” operators. Please remember that Air Niugini is in an industrial dispute with both the PNGAPA and NAPU. This dispute as I understand is also supported by the IFALPA and AFAP.”
Tru, the two ANG Pilot Bodies have to date paid an extraordinary large sum of money in legal fees in order to contest what both organizations see as not only unjust, but a managerial “take it or leave, no consultation/no negotiation” attitude”. ANG will have paid much more to defend its perceived right to do what it wants.
That Court action drags on and when it will finish is anyone’s guess. By all accounts it is a bitter dispute.
HOWEVER, for every Australian East/West Coast Fokker Captain that is considering a PX Contract, there would be at least 20 PX Fokker Captains (and other jet fleet Captains as well) standing in line wanting your job as soon as it was vacant. As for PX First Officer Fokker jobs, actually lets just make that PX First Officer jobs, well there will be a continual supply of those positions for quite some time.
Olderairhead….
“To paraphrase he mentions aircraft numbers.”
In respect to the Fokker Fleet, I think at the moment there are about 11 Fokker 70/100’s. The pilot numbers are hard to work out due to the recent sackings of Captains and First Officers but there would be around 23 – 26 F100/70 Captains. That number includes both the Check and Management Captains. There is still more F70’s to arrive. The shortage of crew is not just a Fokker fleet problem; hence Fokker’s on the HIR, NAN and VLI routes, which are B737 routes, DH8’s (classic and -400’s) on Fokker Routes etc.
It would seem that by necessity the schedule has been reduced to suit the pilot numbers as opposed to being increased to suit the number of arriving aircraft. Kind of handy for engineering tough, plenty of scope for XMAS trees to get parts from.
Duck Pilot….
“I hear the F100 has now got approval to operate to Micronesia at night using Tokua (AYTK) as the alternative. Have CASA PNG approved a F100 or two for EDTO operations?”
Haven’t heard of any EDTO (or even ETOPS) approvals, but those Fokker guys flying the routes are told that all ops are within 60 minutes of a suitable alternate. In addition to Tokua, Kaviang (KVG) is also available as an alternate, and of course TKK for PNI and vice versa. GUM is available with a precision approach at about 550 miles from TKK, admittedly in the wrong direction.
Tripelapidgeon….
Sounds like you have experienced working for a PNG SOE. For those not familiar SOE (State Owned Enterprise), means that the PX Government owns and in all probably (practicality?) has a lot to do with the direction the Company takes, or does not take.
Olderairhead…. (again)
“This week the number of departed since the introduction of the current contract has hit 93.”
That number would include one or two deaths, 3 or 4 compulsory age retirees, couple of failures, retrenchments (ha-ha, smart move that one!!), and more recently, quite a few sackings. The ANG seniority list would be around the 160-180 mark (6 fleets)
A figure of about 50+ Expats is bandied around as having left solely due to the 2015 Contract. That is a large percentage of the expats that were present at the end of 2014. And in just about every case each has gone on to a much better and more family friendly job. Apparently there are few (NO) regrets from those that left.
Prior to that 2015 Contract the resignation rate was quite negligible, satisfaction was high and conditions were good. Then the 2015 Contract was drafted, a total disconnect initiated by HR to the Pilot Group and the “take it or leave it as you are all replaceable attitude” became the norm, preceded of course by the change of management that occurred prior to the change to that attitude.
A new Contract is due by around April next year…there has been no contact whatsoever with the pilot groups as to what the T & C’s will contain. Most surmise it will be worse.
In a recent ANG Paradise editorial, it was stated: “In meeting the challenges and opportunities ahead, we are underpinned by confirmation of our outstanding safety records over 43 years of service to the nation.”
Perhaps mention could have been made of the experienced PX pilots who operate in some pretty difficult conditions have underpinned that safety record, of which there are now 93 less than there was only 2 and a bit years ago, (which would equate to losing something well over1/2 a million flying hours plus, with a large extent of that “Pee N Gee time”).
Good luck to all ye that still sail in the good ship Pixie, hopefully the tide shall turn and fair winds will abound.
From The National newspaper today:
AIR Niugini has sacked eight pilots for allegedly taking part in a “politically-motivated” stop-work in July which caused flight delays and cancellations.
They are Captain Joe Kumasi and First Officer Boris Ageda (Boeing 767), Captain Ben Lopa and First Officer Elijah Yuangi (Boeing 737), Captain Vince Tongia and First Officer David Sekan (F100 and F70), and Captain Norman Daniel and First Officer Abel Kanengo (Dash-8).
Kumasi told The National yesterday that they received their termination letters from Air Niugini last Thursday, the eve of independence anniversary.
Air Niugini chief executive officer Simon Foo yesterday said the eight were sacked as “disciplinary measures” by the company.
Foo said from July 13, 2016, the airline had “experienced an unusual increase of national pilots reporting sick and therefore unable to attend work”.
He said there was a call for stop-work in various sectors including the aviation industry by the “aviation fraternity”. It was allegedly to support weeks of protest by university students who were demanding that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill stepped down to allow police to investigate allegations of corruption against him.
Foo said the stop-work was “politically motivated and began on July 13, 2016”.
“The sudden increase in the number of national pilots reporting sick and unable to attend work from July 13 to 20 affected Air Niugini flights,” he said.
“The airline customers were greatly affected during this period. Air Niugini experienced numerous flight delays and cancellations,” he said.
“Consequently, Air Niugini’s image and branding was severely tarnished, losing valued customers to the opposition airlines both domestically and internationally and incurring significant financial loss.
“Apart from the core group of national pilots, all other employee groups attended to work as normal – the ground staff, aircraft engineers, flight attendants, expatriate pilots and other national pilots.
“All those pilots who reported sick were requested to see the Air Niugini company doctor to verify their medical conditions as a second opinion, with all costs to be paid for by company, as due process because so many pilots reported sick on July 13, 2016 and onwards.
He said the airline management, under the circumstances by way of due process and duty of care and to satisfy its safety requirements, had to carry out such a process.
“As a result of this event, management has reviewed and applied appropriate disciplinary measures to the staff concerned,” he said.
AIR Niugini has sacked eight pilots for allegedly taking part in a “politically-motivated” stop-work in July which caused flight delays and cancellations.
They are Captain Joe Kumasi and First Officer Boris Ageda (Boeing 767), Captain Ben Lopa and First Officer Elijah Yuangi (Boeing 737), Captain Vince Tongia and First Officer David Sekan (F100 and F70), and Captain Norman Daniel and First Officer Abel Kanengo (Dash-8).
Kumasi told The National yesterday that they received their termination letters from Air Niugini last Thursday, the eve of independence anniversary.
Air Niugini chief executive officer Simon Foo yesterday said the eight were sacked as “disciplinary measures” by the company.
Foo said from July 13, 2016, the airline had “experienced an unusual increase of national pilots reporting sick and therefore unable to attend work”.
He said there was a call for stop-work in various sectors including the aviation industry by the “aviation fraternity”. It was allegedly to support weeks of protest by university students who were demanding that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill stepped down to allow police to investigate allegations of corruption against him.
Foo said the stop-work was “politically motivated and began on July 13, 2016”.
“The sudden increase in the number of national pilots reporting sick and unable to attend work from July 13 to 20 affected Air Niugini flights,” he said.
“The airline customers were greatly affected during this period. Air Niugini experienced numerous flight delays and cancellations,” he said.
“Consequently, Air Niugini’s image and branding was severely tarnished, losing valued customers to the opposition airlines both domestically and internationally and incurring significant financial loss.
“Apart from the core group of national pilots, all other employee groups attended to work as normal – the ground staff, aircraft engineers, flight attendants, expatriate pilots and other national pilots.
“All those pilots who reported sick were requested to see the Air Niugini company doctor to verify their medical conditions as a second opinion, with all costs to be paid for by company, as due process because so many pilots reported sick on July 13, 2016 and onwards.
He said the airline management, under the circumstances by way of due process and duty of care and to satisfy its safety requirements, had to carry out such a process.
“As a result of this event, management has reviewed and applied appropriate disciplinary measures to the staff concerned,” he said.
I wonder if it is a coincidence that coinciding with the pending arrival of the ICAO reps to investigate CASA that some of the recent sackees are reportedly writing to CASA about alleged management safety breaches?
Hasn't happened before because everyone was concerned that CASA would report to PX anyone who raised issues and then face getting the chop.
Will be interesting to see what happens next.
Hasn't happened before because everyone was concerned that CASA would report to PX anyone who raised issues and then face getting the chop.
Will be interesting to see what happens next.
Off the topic abit.....
Comparing PNG to the rest of the world interns of their 2014 ICAO audit findings doesn't paint a flavourable picture.
Look at this link http://www.icao.int/safety/pages/usoap-results.aspx
While the results aren't graded on Air Niugini's performance, they would be very concerning to any PNG operator who operates internationally.
If it is true that ICAO are going in for another look, I genuinely hope they come away with some better results than the 2014 audit.
Comparing PNG to the rest of the world interns of their 2014 ICAO audit findings doesn't paint a flavourable picture.
Look at this link http://www.icao.int/safety/pages/usoap-results.aspx
While the results aren't graded on Air Niugini's performance, they would be very concerning to any PNG operator who operates internationally.
If it is true that ICAO are going in for another look, I genuinely hope they come away with some better results than the 2014 audit.