Sorry if I sound a little cynical but:

(fm the Solomonstarnews) The chief executive of the Brisbane-based airline, David Charlton, said it plans to:

0perate its Embraer jets between Honiara and Munda airports, when Munda is upgraded.

So what is the time frame for the upgrade, never been there but isn't it around 14 -1500 metres long, and a little under 200 nm from HIR?

If my guess at the length is correct I'd guess that to make it suitable to take the 170/190 would need some serious cash, probably need more cash for the 145 to be able to use it.

How long would it take to get that cash back and then make the profit.

(fm the Solomonstarnews) Mr Charlton confirmed one of the options under consideration is the single-engine 12-passenger Cessna Grand Caravan.

Does makes for good progression, C208 - E145 - E170 - E190. Nothing like diversifying the fleet.

Must say that I have to wonder about the rationale of getting the aircraft and then looking for work rather than the other way round.

From what I have seen, that seem to have been the business plan from day dot.

However good luck, hope you guys get it to work, who knows I may need a job one day and come knocking.

One type wonders really, now actually grrowlers point is clearly not valid anymore....

One type wonders really, now actually grrowlers point is clearly not valid anymore....

Modern Day Munda
 

MUNDA (AGGM)
A109/08
CAUTION:ROUGH PATCHES ON THE RWY SFC APRX 800M FM RWY 25 THR
AND 500M FM RWY 07 THR
FROM 07 180100 TO 10 310700 EST

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/DSC00927.jpg

Now thats a runway!!!!! :}:}:}:}:}

The loud bang as the Dash 8-100 slams onto the runway, kicking up spoonfuls of dust, the wheels rolling over the rock's, were felt by the fare paying passengers


Ahhh bliss

Actually, it's a pretty good runway. It might need a few patches but length is not a problem. A VOR/DME and runway lights with backup generator will come in handy. Apart from rising hills to the north (and straying dogs, school children, nothing a good perimeter fence can't fix), quite a hazard free approach. Noise might be a problem for a jet to the locals east of the field.

I know an airline that should be working on this project...SOLAIR. Get your ducks in a row SOLAIR and keep outsiders OUT!!
Why my concern? Because that's my house just to coast of the runway.

Nice photo... looks very similar to one I've seen from someone who used to work there, very similar.

The earthquake in April 07 caused a few cracks and undulations in the strip too, it was NOTAMd.
To get Munda up to jet standard is going to take a long time and lots of $. Right now, more effort than is really warranted, but it would be a very handy piece of infrastructure in due course.

Sal, spot on the money with the hazards- don't forget the local police ute coming out and driving down the runway when you are on short final!

Skystar, theres MUCH more interesting strips in the Sollies than Munda.

And a C208 around the islands? crazy...


Anyway, SAW have cut most of their HIR services- it was only a matter of time. Didn't they learn ANYTHING from getting involved with IE?????

SkyAirWorld "To Stay"
 

http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php...n=78&Itemid=26


Getting Worse, perhaps time to cut your losses....

Ahh, as soon as you say you're staying, usually a good sign that you're going. Politics, aviation - not too different from one another in that regard ........................

Article talks about 2x weekly BNE-NOU. Any news on this?

Man, I wish I have those deep pockets that the owners of SAW do

Yep already started 2 weeks ago BNE-NOU every Monday and Friday.Departs BNE at 11am and returns at 1630 .Seems to be the E-170. I believe it is a charter flight mayby mining ? not sure.

Cheers:)

Havent herd about Mining, but did know about the flights starting, they are also looking at adding another day to it... but thats a very big maybe...


Skystar,

I dont think you'd like the debt soon to be wrapped around them.... lol

hm Interesting;
http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/...857495991.html

Its from 2007 however, it was mentioned then that the 170 was wrong for this type of flight...

____________________________________________________________ _

Looks like Virgins not too keen on AGGH yet..

http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php...n=78&Itemid=26

____________________________________________________________ ___

Just something you guys might have an interest in:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyAirWorld

http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.p...ne=SKR&al_op=1

(Pretty All over the shop, but just something for you guys to have a read of)

Apparantly........

Very Apparantly......

Monday and Friday Flights to Cease very soon................

But thats just from smoke and mirrors at the moment....

Well the NOU flights don't seem to be open for public booking, so you'd hope they had a mining or other contract attached to it!!!

Yes it is,

However the mining company (no idea who it is) wanted more days... and now apparantly, they are looking at going somewhere else already....:confused:

STHAUSSIEPILOT,

May I ask, if you don't know who the mining company is how would you know that they are already looking elsewhere??

Company Info, from both Pilots and managment, the flight are aparantly already looking to be cancelled...... so unless they are already out of what ever they were minning....

Obviously they're looking somewhere else... or stopping operations there (the mining company)

SAC
 

Enquiries have established (for the record) that SAC are very alive and very active.