Just been advised ALL travel has to have prior approval from the 4th floor so if even you are paying for it yourself you need prior approval so there is no guarantee that you will get to see your family.

What about approval if one elected to travel with another carrier?

Are there any expats in non company supplied accomodation these days?

To clarify:

PX provides 2 tickets per month and issue is now subject to 4th floor approval.

ANY ticket issued by staff travel is now also subject to 4th floor approval.

They have no control over tickets purchased directly from other airlines.

As for accommodation PX provides accommodation or rental assistance for all expat pilots.

Press release published in the Post Courier by the Fraternity of National Professional Aviators 2 days ago. Draw your own conclusions.

Press Statement

Amid growing Safety concerns, we, the Fraternity of National Professional Aviators, join the cause of the students of various tertiary institutions and the Health Sector Unions for the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to step down in order to preserve the integrity of the highest office of the land.

May 27, 2016

"That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. "

President Abraham Lincoln - November 19, 1863

When President Lincoln uttered those words in a 2-minute speech at Gettysburg, they were so profound and encapsulated the essence of democracy. To this day, it remains the best speech ever. Those words are truer and more relevant to us Papua New Guineans as we, as a Nation, face challenging political and economic times.

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people and it shall not perish from earth”, assured through the last full measure of devotion, their lives. Lives given to free men from the shackles and bondage of slavery, in the belief that all men were born equal. As it was then, so it remains true today.

The people have spoken. Elected representatives on the floor of parliament or any hallowed halls of politics purporting to represent the people are merely instruments of conveyance. In the normal conduct of the business of governance, Norms and Protocols are observed.

These are not normal days we live in. The democratic process of governance and state institutions have been gravely undermined. As a result, our nation is poised on the brink of economic and political catastrophe.

As professional pilots, we ascribe to the ethos that no man is an island. It would be unconscionable for us or any reasonable person, for that matter to continue to turn a blind eye to the gross abuse of political office and mismanagement of the country's economy.

We share the nation’s concern and view with alacrity the snail’s pace at which the Judiciary is addressing high profile cases which are of monumental national interest.

The Safety of the traveling public is becoming a real concern. Shortage of spare parts for aircraft due to procurement difficulties imposed by restrictions on US Dollars, inability to meet payment obligations for overseas service providers on international networks, deteriorating infrastructures due to lack of finances and a plethora of other aviation related safety concerns are becoming real dangers by the day. They impact directly on the safety of the pilots and ultimately the traveling public.

We are now calling on all national professional pilots to take a decisive step in support of the rest of the nation including the professional doctors, health workers, and students by joining the chorus of disaffected voices calling for the restoration of the rule of law.

This country belongs to the people of Papua New Guinea. It does not belong to any one person, be it Peter O'Neill or anyone else. We, the people, may have given you the mandate, but you have more than amply demonstrated that you are not a fit and proper person to occupy that highest office of the land anymore.

We do not require the elections or the political representatives to decide for us. We the people have spoken. If you adamantly refuse to heed, then we call on all professional pilots to support the nation's call for action, by whatever is deemed necessary. The same call summons all Papua New Guineans because this government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish at the hands of one man who will not subject himself to the rule of law, and seeks to destroy the institutions which exist to ensure the very principles our founding fathers laid to uphold the rule of law and democracy.

We truthfully and solemnly declare that we are not influenced by any political interest or external parties. We are driven by our conscience and concern about our future and that of our children. We want an environment where prosperity is assured, equitable distribution of wealth and the rule of law in a thriving democracy prevails.

We call on all you members of parliament to ask yourself what your purpose of being in parliament is: are you there to serve your people, or yourselves? Your behaviours are of suspect. We ask that you salvage whatever little dignity and principle you have remaining and truly represent us your people in calling for the Prime Minister to respect the public office he occupies and subject himself to the rule of law.

For democracy and freedom we respectfully ask Prime Minister O'Neill to step aside and allow due process to take place.

Next Court hearing is scheduled for today.

Possible start of civil unrest.

PNG police shoot four protesting university students dead in Port Moresby, Parliament told - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

PX email to staff:

To All POM Staff:

Latest reports coming in from Gerehu Hospital has confirmed that five (05) students are now confirmed dead and four are been treated for wounds.
Due to the situation at the UPNG Waigani Campus, there is a ripple effect that is going around in the Nation’s Capital.

Fighting has been reported around the Manu-Autoport 3 mile area, six (06) mile area, Gerehu and Gordons areas.

All roads leading into the UPNG Waigani Campus has been blocked off and Police are heavily guarding UPNG.
All UPNG students were forced back into the campus and the situation is been monitored from outside the freeway.

All shopping centres in Gerehu, Rainbow, Manu, Erima and Gordons are closed.

All Public Transportations including buses and taxis have been forced off the road resulting in no buses operating. ANG Waigani Sales office is also closed as a precautionary measure.

Staffs are advised to refrain from using the public motorways and to take extra precaution if need to travel.

Shift staffs are advised to wait at their respective work stations until clearance is sought and Security Transport will be sending buses to transport staffs.
Next update will be sent out at 1400 hours.

Ground Ops & Aviation Security Management

With regards to the above post, some media outlets have changed their tune indicating that there were no deaths, only injuries!

Time for the boss man to stand aside for a while, have his name cleared through the correct processes in order for the country and its people to move forward positively. Until this happens, nothing will improve and industrial disputes such as the existing one will never end where both parties end up with an agreeable outcome.

Any flights been cancelled as a result of this latest protest event?

Update

Transport was supposed to be back to normal today but a crew bus reportedly was stoned as crew were enroute to the airport. Transport services have been cancelled again due to safety concerns.

Also ABC reported incorrectly - no deaths but reports vary between 9 and 31 hospitalised - depends what paper you read.

The crew transport has been contracted out to Black Swan, O'Niel's company, so it is at your own risk to be in one of those while tensions against him are high.

Never said anything about performance. I know they smash the classics and so hey should! 5000shp a side haha. I said terrain...as in the ****ty landing gear hate it and the props can't handle it. Always doing blades!

Well only one left now so meh..

Old enlightened dude,

Did the court case happen the other day or was it postponed due to the unpleasantries?

The court hearing for the case took place on Wednesday 8th June at National Court Waigani.

The purpose of the hearing was to clarify and decide exactly the legal issues that are being claimed applicable to the case, and to hear PX response to them.

The next step should be to proceed to trial with those issues to be argued and decided by court ruling.

The pilot’s Lawyer had lodged the documents well prior to the required date. (There were seven main legal points plus a list of reasons why these issues arise.)

Surprise, PX was effectively a “no show”. K**** Layers for PX sent a junior lawyer rather that P**** K**** as required / listed and he delivered the following messages:-

1. Mr K**** is “sick” and can’t appear.
2. Intend to file a notice of motion for an adjournment
3. Intend to file notice of motion for case to be heard in a different court (this especially did not go down well)

The Judge was visibly angry and demanded to see K****’s sick certificate - which could not be produced. The Judge then asked the pilot’s lawyer “what is your position on this? “ He replied that it was “unfortunate” (since nothing could be done about it) and wanted the day’s total costs to be borne by ANL - this was granted.

The adjournment was granted; given there was no choice this time.

The Judge found point (3) to be “contentious”. This was because asking to be heard in a different courtroom is a request which is traditionally understood in the legal profession to be a way to ask for the case heard before a different Judge—usually of course because they believe that the Judge is biased against them.

Even a hint of the word “bias” goes down very badly in Judge’s circles.

The Judge then gave the junior lawyer a tongue lashing and told him to tell Mr K**** to “come very well prepared with a sick certificate - and a list of very good reasons why he believes I should disqualify myself”.( In other words prove to me I’m a biased judge).

What happens now?

The hearing has been adjourned until Monday 20th June. There can be no further adjournments.

At this hearing:-

1. The Judge will hear Kumans applications – and will rule on disqualifying himself.
2. It will be decided which issues will go to trial.
3. A date will be set for trial.

FAQ - What can Happen?

If / when the pilot’s win - can ANL appeal? -yes
But the appeal hearing CANNOT be adjourned
And the appeal hearing is FINAL.

Also worth noting is that IFALPA legal councel is interested in this case and offering any assistance / advice as required.

Hearing 20 June:

The Judge wants both lawyers to use the pilots affidavit as the guideline for the next hearing so that his honor will determine finally the legal issues to be trialed.

Lawyer for PX reckoned that the list of legal issues to be trialed is too long but the Judge objected saying all were valid thus the order was for both sides to use the pilots affidavit as the guideline for the pre-trial hearing directions by the Judge.

The next hearing is early next month on the 8th or 9th (to be confirmed) but after that hearing the case will be heard by a Trial Judge hopefully within the same month of July.

You guys will be pushing up daisies before a verdict is reached in this case.

The 2015 Contract expires on the 30th of March, 2017, and the new contract will be reviewed (NOTE: NO MENTION OF NEGOTIATION) in the 6 months prior to its expiry.

I'd suggest that a verdict MUST be reached prior to AIRNOGAT/PILOTS issuing a new contract predicated on AIORNOGAT "REVIEWING" the contract, that being the one under the current Court Review.

From what I hear, IALPA is advising from the background, assisting the reported very, very, competant Legal Counsel that the National Airlines Pilots Union, supported by the PNG Airline Pilots Association, have engaged.

So, I suggest that any legal action would probably need to be resolved rather quickly.

Anyway, one way AIRNOGAT will have SOME pilots to fly SOME of its aircraft, the other way they wont have any.

Can hear the scream from Waigani now, "WHAT...NO JET TO HAGAN, AN ATR TO TO LAE, WHAT HAVE YOU MANAGEMENT GUYS DONE TO THIS COUNTRIES FINE AIRLINE!!!!

Heard a whisper that the PX lawyer asked the pilots lawyer what they wanted in the next contract. Response was along the lines of he will be advising his clients (the pilots), no conditions or exceptions - to definitely not to sign anything until this case is resolved. :D

Word is the PX lawyer looked uncomfortable hearing this. :sad:

Wonder if he had the goolies to pass this on to the worlds best HR manager? :rolleyes:

From what my old Expat "mates" are passing on is that any worsening conditions they will just simply walk as it simply wont be worth the pain for the skinny money on offer.

Then there is the National pilots (the new breed) simply wanting to leave as they can't understand why they are being shafted in money and conditions and no-one has offered a reason.

Did he work at PX in the past,...SOLAIR as well?

You mean this one?

Air Niugini wins best SOE employer award | Loop PNG

Yes, He did.

Heard that the AOC has been reissued for another 5 years?????

More SP White Cans please nurse, NAU!!!!!!!

Kunda catch

Just been informed that some more expats have resigned and that no more being put on.

Recruitment is now via the cadet scheme. Reports are the Fokker fleet is running very thin. Captains now occupy right seat due lack of F/O's

An F/O flying with an invalid licence has raised a few eyebrows but CASA is turning a blind eye.

As for the court case there should be a hearing today. Will update as I receive them.

Yet to be confirmed but QF is set to commence operations BNE - POM - BNE in October.

This would mean the code share with PX will cease. Wonder how PX will fill the 767 if they go head to head with QF?

That F/O without valid licence wouldn't be bald would he?

The identity is not the issue, even if he may have extremely short hair, it is the blind eye by CASA and the acceptance of the PX system for this to occur.

Enough said, that person had the same issue in Aus.

My understanding is said pilot is from NZ not Aus and as I said the pilot is not the issue, it is PX and CASA.

Just been advised that the hearing on the 8th heard the final legal arguments and next hearing is on the 20/7 to finalise the "list" before it goes to the "actual court case", date to be advised.

Had the latest Air Niugini in-flight magazine "Paradise" link forwarded for a read.
Paradise Magazine - Air Niugini

In the “Chairman’s Message” of that magazine, the Chairman writes that PX was named the best State Owned Enterprise and its HR General Manger was awarded the best human resources practitioner of the year. (No mention which group of eminent and knowing persons did the selecting). He says “there has been a reduction in overall employee numbers, achieved almost entirely by redundancies and voluntary retirement”.

You have to wonder who dreams this stuff up, a complete disconnect between management and pilots, an inability of the company to provide anything like a stable roster, some of the worst salaries drawing the highest taxes in the Pacific, with around 70 pilot resignations thus far due to the deplorable contract conditions.

No mention in the "message" that Air Niugini are presently funding an expensive legal defense where the Pilots Unions, representing a large portion of the 180+ pilots have had to take Court Action to get ANG to listen to the concerns regarding the way the 2015 contract was forced on its pilots.

The fact that Air Niugini has avoided industrial action (as stated in the "message") has solely been due to the Pilots believing that the 2015 contract issue was so fundamentally wrong that the courts will correct it, rather than needing to cause grief to the public by that type of action.

This “best SOE and best HR practitioner” who only communicate with its Pilot group by written edict and have zero communication whatsoever with the two bodies representing the pilots, considering them as simply "Enemies of the State", do not have the right to wear the badge of best of anything.

So, while management types pat themselves on the back and write about each other, sadly the good people of PNG suffer by flight cancellations and continual delays due to crew shortages.

Good luck to those that remain and all the best for your upcoming court case.

Wasn't sure if to post in the thread http://www.pprune.org/australia-new-...rding-png.html or in this one, but all probably related.

So, am told that Yesterday at PX around 20 tech crew were unavailable due to being sick, up to 9 aircraft went tech and up to a dozen destinations didn't get serviced.

Maybe the protest did happen!

Maybe just no Reserve coverage, but 20 is a bit of a stretch to cover admittedly.

Wondering how the other PNG airlines fared?

And it wouldn't have been a result of the footy game the night b4 because we are all Maroons supporters.

I have had it confirmed that 19 Nationals called in sick.

PX's take on it Air Niugini reassures passengers | Loop PNG

And from an extremely reliable source:

Dear All,

Please be advised of the following CANCELLATIONS for today (14JULY2016) operations due aircraft unserviceability and tech crew shortage.

DASH 8 FLEET
PX856/857 POM-GUR-POM
PX7990/PX7991 POM-WBM-POM [RESCHEDULED SVC FROM YESTERDAY]
PX860/861 POM-MDU-POM
PX7800/7801 POM-DAU-POM [RESCHEDULED SVC FROM YESTERDAY]
PX964/965 POM-GKA-POM

FOKKER FLEET
PX7182/7183 POM-HGU-POM [EXTRA SERVICE]
PX202/209 POM-HKN-RAB-HKN-LAE-POM
PX154/155 POM-GUR-POM
PX250/253 POM-BUA-RAB-POM
PX102/103 POM-LAE-POM
PX104/105 POM-LAE-POM
PX4290/4243/4241 POM-MAS-HKN-MAS-POM
PX244 POM-HKN O/NIGHT
PX186/7 POM-HGU-POM

BOEING FLEET
PX290/291 POM-MAS-POM
PX084/085 POM-HIR-NAN-HIR-POM

Also note status of the following afternoon departures:
PX5290: NIL F100 F/O
PX274: NIL F100 F/O
PX098: NIL F100 F/O

All stations please advise passengers accordingly and also take note that at this time there is no definitive assurance regarding aircraft and crew availability tomorrow as well.

Seems like the cull of expats is having an affect on PX.

More from the extremely reliable source:

WORKING ON DAYS OFF

ALL TECH CREW,

Due to the extra ordinary situation the airline is currently having with crew shortage and flight disruptions the management wish to make an announcement to crew who would like to assist the airline by working on Days Off in reducing the backlog that we are currently facing.

The recent disruptions have affected the airline financially and have created a negative image on the National Flag Carrier.

The incentive offered is the doubling of the current rate for Working On Day Off (DO).

Your service is for the people of Papua New Guinea and those willing to assist please do immediately inform crewing on XXXXXX or XXXXXX on XXXXX for immediate planning.

The incentive is offered for period between is to 23rd of July 2016.

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. With thanks,

With the current shortage of crew and the impact upon PX trying to crew flights an extremely reliable source has told me that "management" went around to a pilot's house who had called in sick and "threatened him to fly"

The pilot went to work and signed on but the Captain was not prepared to fly with him under those circumstances and sent him home via the doctors.

Maybe more to come.

As for today's operation, info is that 23 have called in sick.

Latest gem from the world best HR manger which is really going to alienate pilots even further, especially those going on leave during this period.

TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF STAFF CONCESSIONAL TRAVEL PRIVILEGES AND LEAVE TRAVEL

All staff are informed that due to the current situation faced by the airline which has resulted in the large number of the travelling public affected, concessional travel and leave travel for staff is temporarily suspended until the end of the month – 30 July, 2016. This will take effect IMMEDIATELY.

Accordingly, staff holding concessional travel and leave travel tickets will not be accepted for flights, and in this regard staff should not present themselves at the airport hoping to get on flights.

Our priority and commitment at this time is to our full fare paying customers.

I trust you will all understand and I look forward to your co-operation.

From an ex PX driver my thoughts go out to you guys.
The environment is difficult enough without the sort of treatment that you have been receiving of late.
A once great Airline now on the cusp of oblivion.
Only your efforts will bring it back to where it should be.
The people of PNG and the committed staff of Air Niugini deserve better.
Stay strong and unified.

Another 10 flights cancelled due no crew.

Sydney B737 replaced with B767 due no crew

Lost count of the number of displaced pax throughout the country being put up in hotels at PX expense

No mention of flight cancellations for the corporate clients?

what a shame. px was once one of the best little airlines around the pacific. highly experienced drivers doing it out of passion and money. take one or both of those factors away it and this is what happens. the management, executive and board should be accountable to all citizens for this **** up. it's not like it's happened over night, there has been a concerted effort to destroy the airline but once past pnr this is what you get.

This is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what is going to happen once the resignations start kicking in en mass in a tight group. An offer to the current pilot body will have little success as by that stage minds are made up and better jobs have already been found.

What's left of the training department won't be able to cope with all the training and checks required of the new pilots joining. The only pilots interested will be short term contract merchants who will demand a premium for working in a place like PNG. This will result in considerable resentment from the few pilots that remain and whose pay is considerably below the new joiners.

Flights will continue to be cancelled until the company is able to get ahead of the bookings by about six weeks and puts out a skeleton timetable which they can actually operate. Most of the fleet is grounded due to lack of crew. There will be considerable anger amongst the population who have little alternative to the national airline.

Newly hired pilots lack the all important local experience and many incidents will result, some serious. Each new pilot operates to his own particular set of SOPs because they are better than AirNiuginis.

Takes around 18 months to sort out and get back into the position the airline was before it all started. Millions of $$$ down the drain, someone gets made the scapegoat and fired.