Airlines PNG
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Enroute from Dagobah to Tatooine...!
Posts: 791
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
The version of IL's 185 crash that I heard was that he was doing a 'lolly drop' over a village where they were building an airstrip on the side of the mountain. While leaning over to the right side of the acft to encourage the goodies out, a tree was clipped and the plane was brought down. He did not die immediately but was cared for by the villagers until he died later that day from his injuries. I am willing to stand correct as no doubt much myth spreads after these events...
I fly over his still intact acft on the side of that mountain ridge (Nomane ridge opposite Crater Mountain and Mt Michael - beside the Tua river for those interested) very regularly and it is one of those continual macbre reminders of the nature of PNG. The airstrip is still unfinished and would certainly be one of the exciting ones if ever it was to be finished
I fly over his still intact acft on the side of that mountain ridge (Nomane ridge opposite Crater Mountain and Mt Michael - beside the Tua river for those interested) very regularly and it is one of those continual macbre reminders of the nature of PNG. The airstrip is still unfinished and would certainly be one of the exciting ones if ever it was to be finished
Billie went from PX, to retirement at the Irish Club with Jasper, where he was recruited back for King Air command with Flight West Airlines. Jasper told me the other day that he is suffering Alzheimer’s but still able to make the Irish Club each week, if he remembers! 
Think he and Jasper are 80?
I didn’t think there was a definitive report on IDL, but I may be wrong. I too heard some suggestion or rumours of control cable tampering.
Tins. In your case 60 is definitely geriatric!!!
Think he and Jasper are 80?I didn’t think there was a definitive report on IDL, but I may be wrong. I too heard some suggestion or rumours of control cable tampering.
Tins. In your case 60 is definitely geriatric!!!
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Any PNG pilot who gets the privilege of becoming geriatric is a very skilled....or lucky man/woman!
Onya Tinnie and co.
I will never be that brave
Was born there though........
J
Onya Tinnie and co.I will never be that brave
Was born there though........
J
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
Posts: 2,976
Received 104 Likes
on
59 Posts
One thing about geriatric pilots in PNG is they is in bed at night not out cruising the Rigo rubbish tip.
The only den of iniquity I ever visited was, of course, Club Dero.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The Far Side
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In 1974, the then Director of Flight Operations of D.C.A., Johnson I think his name was, stood in front of a safety seminar for mission pilots and his opening remarks were "Good morning gentlemen. I know that 80% of the flying in PNG would not accomplished if you adhered to the rules." The man who was meant to enforce those very rules on us.
PNG flying is rarely in the "safe" middle of any envelope. You are always on the edges of your aircraft's limitations, your own limitations and the environments limitations-weather, terrain, airstrips. If you do it for a long time and live, you know those limitations, and thus, you are a good pilot. Perhaps translating that into being a "middle of the envelope" airline pilot doesn't work out for some, but I'd sit behind that pilot anytime just the same.
PNG flying is rarely in the "safe" middle of any envelope. You are always on the edges of your aircraft's limitations, your own limitations and the environments limitations-weather, terrain, airstrips. If you do it for a long time and live, you know those limitations, and thus, you are a good pilot. Perhaps translating that into being a "middle of the envelope" airline pilot doesn't work out for some, but I'd sit behind that pilot anytime just the same.
Ummmmmm? 1974........ Wasn't Joe Tauvasa then at the helm of the fledgling PNG department (Joe Wal in the No 2 slot) and Paul Chokino (spelling?) head of the Aussie Department in Port Morbid? Paul went on to edit the Crash Comic in Canberra for a period before disappearing from the scene.
The guy Johnson - I must be confused with old age - he was either the LAME in charge of airworthiness, great guy but passed away with cancer, or the FO in Wes's notorious gliding King Air?
Ah, days of the old Department! Out the back for a serious discussion over "tea and bikkies", then down to the Dero with the Examiner, sins forgiven. I think a lot of pilots learned some serious common sense from that approach to regulation!
Wasn't Joe Tauvasa then at the helm of the fledgling PNG department (Joe Wal in the No 2 slot) and Paul Chokino (spelling?) head of the Aussie Department in Port Morbid? Paul went on to edit the Crash Comic in Canberra for a period before disappearing from the scene.The guy Johnson - I must be confused with old age - he was either the LAME in charge of airworthiness, great guy but passed away with cancer, or the FO in Wes's notorious gliding King Air?
Ah, days of the old Department! Out the back for a serious discussion over "tea and bikkies", then down to the Dero with the Examiner, sins forgiven. I think a lot of pilots learned some serious common sense from that approach to regulation!
Silly Old Git
Speaking of old fearless PNG aviators someone is looking for Feeney 
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=273112
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=273112
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Deep South
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Everything is relative, up here these guys are regarded as GOOD employers!!
Most pilots are working max hours (some doing more), personally I'd rather be working than sitting around in a compound/fortress.
What was said earlier is right though, the guys up here love looking sideways at other companies for their new hires; PNG experience may be respected overseas, but it is even more highly respected in-country.
Most pilots are working max hours (some doing more), personally I'd rather be working than sitting around in a compound/fortress.
What was said earlier is right though, the guys up here love looking sideways at other companies for their new hires; PNG experience may be respected overseas, but it is even more highly respected in-country.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Deep South
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Please don't take this as gospel as it's from the grape/SP vine, others may be able to give more reliable and sober information.
Lots of applications from O/S when they advertised a few months ago.
Recruiting lately is mainly from in-country for nationals and expats with previous PNG time.
Lots of applications from O/S when they advertised a few months ago.
Recruiting lately is mainly from in-country for nationals and expats with previous PNG time.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Twotter or Dash 8 FO's ?
I'm putting an application in and going up there to see APNG in person, but......if I got a DHC-6 or -8 FO slot, whats it like ?
What's the time off like - in fact how much time off is there and what's to do when you arn't at work ? Is 90 hours duty / 14 days the usual and is it 6/7 ? I've heard that the accom and $ (or K) is ok ?
I do know that its 1000 hours in the right seat before you get a command, which makes sense if you want to stay alive. Does that equate to about 2 years as long as you make the grade ?
Someone said it was better at Skippers...
xxx D
What's the time off like - in fact how much time off is there and what's to do when you arn't at work ? Is 90 hours duty / 14 days the usual and is it 6/7 ? I've heard that the accom and $ (or K) is ok ?
I do know that its 1000 hours in the right seat before you get a command, which makes sense if you want to stay alive. Does that equate to about 2 years as long as you make the grade ?
Someone said it was better at Skippers...
xxx D
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
Posts: 2,976
Received 104 Likes
on
59 Posts
play with the local girls !
They might have done so back in days of yore.As someone else once put it on these boards, these days it could be a case of 'You want AIDS with that Masta?'
