Sapos yu gat inap taim long kalap long balus ikam long Papua Niugini, yu mas traim.
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Well said Chuck ... spot on advice! This is the sorta stuff that maybe our good mate Woomera can archive for ready reference in the future.
These days, I like to look down at the strips I used to fly into, back in the 80's. I look down from about FL240 and remember many experiences, some humourous, some absolutely terrifying! I've been away from that sort of thing for much too long to ever consider it again.
I've made a rule for myself that, if the B200 doesn't fit into a particular strip, I won't take any other type in there. Accelerate/Stop in the B200 is around 1100 metres at strips near sea level, so that is the minimum length I accept these days. And I'm not even going to touch the issue of soft surfaces!
I hope that anyone wanting to visit here takes special note of your comments about enroute flying. You'll be pleased to read that our WGS-84 survey, some years ago, has corrected the location of all licensed airstrips. BUT, of course, the fact remains that all the available topo charts are still based on AGD-66, so there's still room for error and to confuse one place for another - especially if the weather isn't "severe clear".
These days, I like to look down at the strips I used to fly into, back in the 80's. I look down from about FL240 and remember many experiences, some humourous, some absolutely terrifying! I've been away from that sort of thing for much too long to ever consider it again.
I've made a rule for myself that, if the B200 doesn't fit into a particular strip, I won't take any other type in there. Accelerate/Stop in the B200 is around 1100 metres at strips near sea level, so that is the minimum length I accept these days. And I'm not even going to touch the issue of soft surfaces!
I hope that anyone wanting to visit here takes special note of your comments about enroute flying. You'll be pleased to read that our WGS-84 survey, some years ago, has corrected the location of all licensed airstrips. BUT, of course, the fact remains that all the available topo charts are still based on AGD-66, so there's still room for error and to confuse one place for another - especially if the weather isn't "severe clear".
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HERC JERC I'm with you.
After 36 years in PNG i've seen a few visitors fail to return to Oz with the aircraft remains still stuck in the hills around the country. I would certainly hesitate to offer specific advice in case a visitor was involved in an accident and the written word held as evidence.
Come to PNG by all means, have a few coldies at Ted Kennedy's Aero Club and seek advice from the professionals who are current in low level flying in restricted performance aircraft. These chaps will be only too willing to help you enjoy the trip around the country. Happy flying.
After 36 years in PNG i've seen a few visitors fail to return to Oz with the aircraft remains still stuck in the hills around the country. I would certainly hesitate to offer specific advice in case a visitor was involved in an accident and the written word held as evidence.
Come to PNG by all means, have a few coldies at Ted Kennedy's Aero Club and seek advice from the professionals who are current in low level flying in restricted performance aircraft. These chaps will be only too willing to help you enjoy the trip around the country. Happy flying.
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Chuck's post contains the sort of good advice that can be gleaned at "Ted Kennedy's Aero Club", but I would hate to think that readers interpreted it as all that they need to know. There is much more that can certainly be learned from the blokes who congregate at the Aero Club.
Chuck's post advocates safety as the ONLY way to enjoy a flying visit to PNG - and live to tell the story. Inherent in his post is the need for preparation. The need to understand that this place is very different from Australia, New Zealand and everywhere else, in many ways.
We are all interested in keeping people alive and this is the basis of the advice from Chuck, HJ and yours truly. The thing to be kept in mind is that all the advice contained in this thread - and all its' predecessors - is of a general nature only. It can't ever be more than that, without knowing planned starting points, destinations, pilot experience, type of aircraft, etc.
Now, in case anyone is interested, the same Ted Kennedy is contesting the current national elections, in the National Capital District. For the current standings in the NCD, have a look at the NCD Election Results on the PNG Electoral Commission website.
Chuck's post advocates safety as the ONLY way to enjoy a flying visit to PNG - and live to tell the story. Inherent in his post is the need for preparation. The need to understand that this place is very different from Australia, New Zealand and everywhere else, in many ways.
We are all interested in keeping people alive and this is the basis of the advice from Chuck, HJ and yours truly. The thing to be kept in mind is that all the advice contained in this thread - and all its' predecessors - is of a general nature only. It can't ever be more than that, without knowing planned starting points, destinations, pilot experience, type of aircraft, etc.
Now, in case anyone is interested, the same Ted Kennedy is contesting the current national elections, in the National Capital District. For the current standings in the NCD, have a look at the NCD Election Results on the PNG Electoral Commission website.
Grandpa Aerotart
But be aware that the trip from Hotel to the Dero in Moresby will in all likelyhood be the most dangerous part of the whole trip!
And it is not the place 'dripping with experienced drivers' it was when I turned up as a fresh faced youth 16 years ago!
You want the name of the bar where all the good experience is now drinking?...Room 217 (Private PX pilots bar, invitation only) at the Airways Hotel...unless the likes of Sharpie has driven the last of them to resign from PX.
Chuck.
And it is not the place 'dripping with experienced drivers' it was when I turned up as a fresh faced youth 16 years ago!
You want the name of the bar where all the good experience is now drinking?...Room 217 (Private PX pilots bar, invitation only) at the Airways Hotel...unless the likes of Sharpie has driven the last of them to resign from PX.
Chuck.
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The Dero certainly has its share of quiet nights when few folks congregate there. But Friday nights, you're sure to find a few from Airlines of PNG and Regional Air, with a sprinkling of others, and the occasional couple of PX guys.
HJ ... too true mate, we all had the same problem starting out. The first lesson we learned was, therefore, to cope with both alcohol AND information!
Practice made us all perfect... 
HJ ... too true mate, we all had the same problem starting out. The first lesson we learned was, therefore, to cope with both alcohol AND information!
Practice made us all perfect...
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Yeah OZ, we practised that alot back in Lae also, and i may even have got reasonably proficient (SP?) at it at one time... but these days i have certainly lost the edge, the next day just kills me! 
CHUCKLES, we also used to say that the drive from Lae to Nadzab for work and back again was the most dangerous part of the day... and looking back i guess i still agree- but more so now remembering the way WE used to drive
Capt Vege, i am just glad that the really painful memories fade with time
I guess it goes to show that there is more to PNG drivers than the ability to land on a Goat Track and not smack into the side of a hill... you have to perform under ALL sorts of conditions
CHUCKLES, we also used to say that the drive from Lae to Nadzab for work and back again was the most dangerous part of the day... and looking back i guess i still agree- but more so now remembering the way WE used to drive
Capt Vege, i am just glad that the really painful memories fade with time
I guess it goes to show that there is more to PNG drivers than the ability to land on a Goat Track and not smack into the side of a hill... you have to perform under ALL sorts of conditions
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Chuckles, Ozex, Cap'n Veg et al Gentlemen all; As only a short timer in PNG as I previously mentioned (just over 900 hrs if I remember correctly) you have given far better advice that I could possibly could. There are times when I wish I had had the same advice before I started with DZ all those years ago.
Still, I managed to survive; though only God knows how.
Still, I managed to survive; though only God knows how.
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HJ ... you're a bit of a special case tho mate - "Doctor" Dunley told me all about how he cured your malaria overnight! Little wonder the next day just kills ya these days coz, by rights, ya shudda died that night in Lae! 
I'm not sure that the Highlands Highway, between Lae and Nadzab is any better now than it used to be...
Pinky ... I reckon most of us got thrown in the deep end and told to swim, in one way or another. The fact that we actually managed to "swim" has probably got more to do with good luck than anything else. I have often had reason to be grateful that "it wasn't my time to die" because God knows there were plenty of opportunities for it!
Veg, mate, are ya busily collating the answers to the original idea by RV6-VNE, regarding the "10 steepest, and the 10 shortest commercial strips ever used in PNG".
I've just had mail from our good ol' mate Plugga in which he's sent some photos to add to his gallery. I haven't even had time to check them out yet but I feel sure that they'll be worth looking at. I'll let you all know as soon as I've uploaded them!
Little wonder the next day just kills ya these days coz, by rights, ya shudda died that night in Lae! I'm not sure that the Highlands Highway, between Lae and Nadzab is any better now than it used to be...
Pinky ... I reckon most of us got thrown in the deep end and told to swim, in one way or another. The fact that we actually managed to "swim" has probably got more to do with good luck than anything else. I have often had reason to be grateful that "it wasn't my time to die" because God knows there were plenty of opportunities for it!
Veg, mate, are ya busily collating the answers to the original idea by RV6-VNE, regarding the "10 steepest, and the 10 shortest commercial strips ever used in PNG".
I've just had mail from our good ol' mate Plugga in which he's sent some photos to add to his gallery. I haven't even had time to check them out yet but I feel sure that they'll be worth looking at. I'll let you all know as soon as I've uploaded them!
Reposted as requested
Please enjoy.
olders album
Would have posted this earlier but work intervened!
Once the world slows down a little I hope to catch up on this thread.
(edited cos after rereading it didn't read as I meant)
Please enjoy.
olders album
Would have posted this earlier but work intervened!
Once the world slows down a little I hope to catch up on this thread.
(edited cos after rereading it didn't read as I meant)
Last edited by olderairhead; 25th Jun 2002 at 22:02.
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I've just uploaded the latest photos that Plugga sent me. You can see them in Plugga's Album. No goat tracks this time, but some very interesting scenes!
I especially like his photo of the volcano going off at Cape Gloucester. I saw much the same thing myself, back in 1985, while stopped there on a charter. My photo of the eruption is here, for comparison.
Straight after I took that photo, my pax arrived and we wasted no time in getting out of there!
I especially like his photo of the volcano going off at Cape Gloucester. I saw much the same thing myself, back in 1985, while stopped there on a charter. My photo of the eruption is here, for comparison.
Straight after I took that photo, my pax arrived and we wasted no time in getting out of there!
Grandpa Aerotart
P2-COI was the 402 that tried to kill me in 1989...engine failure at < 50' on takeoff from Finchafen in pouring rain and 500' cloud base. I was 5nm out over the water before I got to 300' and to this day I'm not sure how I missed the trees between the end of the strip and the coastline
It was an ex Co-Air machine, hence the rego, and was a bucket of $hit...I used to say flying it was a C**t Of an Idea...the way it ended it's days was kinda poetic justice GKE and even GKB were much nicer machines to fly.
Those aux's were a bit of a trick...I know someone who aileron rolled a Talair 402 while on aux tanks and both engines stopped when inverted...they came right back as level flight was resumed...he never did THAT again...well...not on Aux tanks
Oz I thought the Arava was the Flying Tampax?
Something I forgot to mention in my previous post. If you take a normally aspirated piston engined aircraft to PNG make sure you understand the technique for leaning the mixture on takeoff WHEN ABOVE FULL THROTTLE HEIGHT as you will be in the Highlands at GKA and HGU. You will need to lean on climb too above FTH...a fraction richer than 'Best Power' will be near enough.
You will only be getting about 24 to 25 in MP on takeoff in the Highlands and if you don't lean the mixture back you'll be drowning the poor thing in fuel.
Chuck.
It was an ex Co-Air machine, hence the rego, and was a bucket of $hit...I used to say flying it was a C**t Of an Idea...the way it ended it's days was kinda poetic justice
GKE and even GKB were much nicer machines to fly.Those aux's were a bit of a trick...I know someone who aileron rolled a Talair 402 while on aux tanks and both engines stopped when inverted...they came right back as level flight was resumed...he never did THAT again...well...not on Aux tanks
Oz I thought the Arava was the Flying Tampax?
Something I forgot to mention in my previous post. If you take a normally aspirated piston engined aircraft to PNG make sure you understand the technique for leaning the mixture on takeoff WHEN ABOVE FULL THROTTLE HEIGHT as you will be in the Highlands at GKA and HGU. You will need to lean on climb too above FTH...a fraction richer than 'Best Power' will be near enough.
You will only be getting about 24 to 25 in MP on takeoff in the Highlands and if you don't lean the mixture back you'll be drowning the poor thing in fuel.
Chuck.
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Flying Tampax?
Chuck ... there was a story, quite some years ago, of a PNGDF pilot who allegedly suggested that the Squadron Commander should use the thing as a suppository ... or words to that effect.
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Thank you OAH
This picture brings back memoriesold Macai r hangar
It was of course in my day it was painted white and green.
I wonder why we havent heard from any former Mac air pilots on this forum?
The photo of Aiome reminded me of a trip in there in 1971 with a 185 full of cargo.
Unloaded the the cargo and a local chap comes up to me and tells me in excellent english hes getting on the plane for the return trip.
Ok says me pas bilong yu we? So he gives me his travel doccos and we agree he has to go.Only problem no seats.Never mind we stick his patrol box in the arse end sit him on it and wind a seat belt over him.
He seemed a bit pissed off but climbed on board.
He was in a fact a journalist political stirrer with the fledgling Pangu party later to become Papa bilong ol Sir Michael Somare.
He never forgave me .
spellin
This picture brings back memoriesold Macai r hangar
It was of course in my day it was painted white and green.
I wonder why we havent heard from any former Mac air pilots on this forum?
The photo of Aiome reminded me of a trip in there in 1971 with a 185 full of cargo.
Unloaded the the cargo and a local chap comes up to me and tells me in excellent english hes getting on the plane for the return trip.
Ok says me pas bilong yu we? So he gives me his travel doccos and we agree he has to go.Only problem no seats.Never mind we stick his patrol box in the arse end sit him on it and wind a seat belt over him.
He seemed a bit pissed off but climbed on board.
He was in a fact a journalist political stirrer with the fledgling Pangu party later to become Papa bilong ol Sir Michael Somare.
He never forgave me .
spellin
Last edited by Capt Vegemite; 27th Jun 2002 at 13:37.
Grandpa Aerotart
Somare...the fact that the little spivs face is on the PNG K50 note is just coincidence of course.
And after all those years of stirring for 'Independence' when they finally said "Ok" his reply was "Huh?, not NOW, I didn't mean now, we're not ready!!"
Chuck.
And after all those years of stirring for 'Independence' when they finally said "Ok" his reply was "Huh?, not NOW, I didn't mean now, we're not ready!!"
Chuck.
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 27th Jun 2002 at 14:51.
