Sharpie

Too smart for that , booked on the Wednesday flight which doesn't leave until 0945.
Actually this is the fifth time ( 1961 / 1976 / 1982 / 1990 / 2008 ) that I have departed for the "final" time , never to return.
Some people just never learn.

1961 to 1976 = 15 years.
1976 to 1982 = 6 years.
1982 to 1990 = 8 years.
1990 to 2008 = 18 years! :eek:

Even I'm impressed by that... :p

OzExpat

The dates shown were departures.

Actual time spent in PNG was....

1960-1961 TAA
1970-1976 TAA/Pixie
1979-1982 Pixie
1983-1990 Talair/Pixie
2007-2008 Pixie

Got to say I met some of the most unforgettable and colourful characters in that time. Gives you a warm feeling when you recognise people and events from Jim Sinclair's "Balus" trilogy , Sepik Pilot , Keith Buxton's "Golden Years" etc etc.
Too many names to mention here , but includes.......
Red Leader ( Ralph Conley )
Junior
Biscuit Ears
Der Fuhrer
Mudguard
GHOC
Birrell
Looie the Lip
Greasy Blackman
"Carruthers" Couston
Martin Charles Dunstan Tyler and his Tokarara "Tomatoes"
Coco the clown
Bobby Gibbes

Gawd , you could go on forever , you will not see their likes again in the "Territory"

Yes sir Hanoi.

There are a few fantastic names in that lot with some fond memories and many fantastic laughs as well.

I note in today's PC that Col Lyttle is back in town(or soon to be) poor lad, has he not been reading pprune for the past 12 months and I wonder when he'll pull the pin. And Mr Joseph. A vellygut selekshun.:)

Delivery of the E190 due on the 19th of April i believe. Straight from the factory.

Actually, come to think of it, possibly this month (march)? perhaps HANOI can confirm...

E190 due through POM on 19 March on it's delivery flight to SkyAirWorld in BNE.
Lease supposed to start 1 April but may be slightly delayed due cabin crew training requirements and regulatory approvals etc.

6 sleeps and a brreakfast

Air Niugini getting two 787-9s, one 767-300ER, two F100s, three Dash 8s
 

A lot seems to have changed since the earlier postings on this topic. I spoke today to a well-placed source of mine at the airline who gave me an update. My source told me the airline CEO was in Dubai today to arrange the purchase of at least one more Fokker 100 and Boeing reps were in Port Moresby today to help the airline with operation specifications for the 787-9. The order for 787-9s will defintely go though because the airline has already paid a deposit. To get the full details you can read my blog at

http://www.leithensaviationbulletin.*************/


Regards,

Leithen Francis
deputy Asia editor (ATI)
Flight International

leithen - your link is broken???

you have to type in dot ******** dot com after leithensaviationbulletin

leithen - really nice article you have written there on PX :ok:

News Thursday 13th March, 2008

Shortage of pilots irks ANG

AIR Niugini is being hit by a shortage of pilots to fly its increasing fleet of aircraft, the national airline revealed yesterday.
A Port Moresby-wide flu outbreak also forced flight cancellations after pilots fell sick when they caught the viral infection.
Responding to criticisms of its operations within the aviation industry, Air Niugini CEO Wasantha Kumarasiri said the airline was not spared from the problems being created by the worldwide shortage of pilots.
“Currently, there is a worldwide shortage of pilots in the vicinity of 2000 or more, further, Air Niugini has faced increased competition from the other airlines in the region on recruitment and retention of pilots,” he added.
The CEO is pinning his hopes on new salary levels offered by the airline to prospecting pilots towards the end of last year, which he says has the potential to attract new pilots as well as ensure those currently employed stay on the job.
Meanwhile, Mr Kumarasiri has blamed a flu outbreak in Port Moresby for the flight cancellations experienced last weekend, which he said resulted in a number of pilots falling sick and being unable to fly.
He added that despite the problems, the airline will announce a number of new initiatives that will enable it to tackle the problems currently being faced by the traveling public.
Last year was a record year for the airline with Air Niugini experiencing a record passenger growth with the total number uplifted to December 2007 hovering close to the 1 million mark.
The airline has also upgraded 70 per cent of its fleet with Mr Kumarasiri assuring the traveling public that the board and management will continue to work hard to achieve beneficial outcomes.

Was just about to comment on the shortage of pilots in PNG, good article.

It's confirmed PX are getting more equipment but good luck finding people to fly them!. PX HR is an absolute joke and it is a pain to deal with them at the best of times.

Very hard to find homes for new guys too, currently they just camp at the Crowne Plaza at PX's expense.

Camp at the Crowne Plaza for about 440 kina per night now, and PX also give the guys meal allownaces on top as well. Bloody expensive little excersise nowdays. Rental properties would have to be cheaper even if they were paying 6 or 7 grand a month for a 2 or 3 bedroom house or unit in town.

SXK registed on 14/03
 

Skyairworld registered a new E190 on 14/03. This is probably the a/c in question.

SXK EMBRAERE RJ 190-100LR
19000154 14/3/2008
AFS INVESTMENTS 67-B, INC
Building 2,
572 Swan Street
RICHMOND
VIC 3121 SKY AIR WORLD PTY LIMITED
PO Box 1455,
EAGLE FARM
QLD 4009

Here it is

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...1206181622.jpg

Pretty Lady
 

Looks like a nice lady bird!

Congrats to Skyairworld and hope that they can make money with her!

Anyone interested in a Dash 8 command ?
 

I hear a few of the Fokker 100 FO's are in tears ! :{:{:{ (Tissues are available on the fight deck for those who may require them) Welcome to the Dash 8 boys ! In my view it's a very good decision by the company to impose the requirement of 1000 hours Dash command with the company, prior to being upgraded to the left seat of the Fokker. :ok:

How, they are struggling to make money with the EMB-170 from all accounts

Anyone have any info on the SAW interview??

What happened to the A310 PX were/are going to lease? saw it in Aus Aviation month or two ago, had the paint scheme “White” written across it, any one see it? :confused: