Helos operating in PNG ?
 

Hi,

Could anyone who has been in the PNG region recently please advise if the following Helo's are still operating in PNG and if so where please.

P2-CHI Boeing Chinook - Airlines of PNG

5 x KA32's - Hevi Lift

3 x MI8's - Hevi Lift

3x Puma's - Pacific Helicopters


Many many thanks in advance

Cheers

I'm pretty sure that the Chinook is still owned by Columbia Helicopters. I note from the last PNG Aircraft Register that I received, that P2-CHI is owned by MBA Pty Ltd., but I suspect that it merely means operated by them.

I suspect that the Russian types are still used under the HeviLift AOC. Again according the same Aircraft Register, the KA32, P2-RAA is owned by HeviLift.

If there are still some Pumas here, they will be being operated by Pacific Helicopters. The register still shows 3 Pumas, being P2-PAY, P2-PAZ and P2-PHZ.

So I'm guessing that your real question relates to the accuracy of the Aircraft Register. I've been having my own problems getting an update and I work for the PNG CAA! Our Airworthiness folks have had many MANY technical difficulties in producing a register in the last 12 months. :eek:

I remain hopeful, but am not holding my breath... :(

Columbia still has the Chinook operating there.

Hevi-lift took a bunch of stuff out of country, but I don't know current status.

Heard a couple of months ago that the Pacific machines were still parked there but there was a fire in the hangar that damaged one machine and destroyed a bunch of parts.

Heli-Harvest NZ has 1 or 2 Mi-17's operating there, last I heard.

All above is first hand high-grade rumour - so take it for what it may be worth!

Interesting link

last I saw the Columbia Chinook was operating out of Moro in SHP, 2 of the Pacific Puma's are now ash in GKA and the other is spare parts minus rotors and interior (insurance job), and the HeviLift Kamov's were at Moro also, but not all operational. Also, I saw one of those big Russian things at POM recently