Worst Place To Be A Pilot
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
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And a real beat up as far as I'm concerned.
Struth; Turbines, a full IFR panel with Navaids that actually work, and a GPS??!!
I really wonder what Tinpis, Chimbu Chuckles and others of the earlier times would say.
I was only a latecomer to PNG and a short timer at that, but the blokes on this program have it easy.
Struth; Turbines, a full IFR panel with Navaids that actually work, and a GPS??!!
I really wonder what Tinpis, Chimbu Chuckles and others of the earlier times would say.
I was only a latecomer to PNG and a short timer at that, but the blokes on this program have it easy.
Pinky's tribulations...
Just to put your mind at rest some 'old timers' actually think they are doing a great job up there...and don't feel the need to put them down.
Don't know when you were last in Papua but it's definitely not even PNG in the early '70s...sure, the equipment is better but that's where the comparison ends.
Don't know when you were last in Papua but it's definitely not even PNG in the early '70s...sure, the equipment is better but that's where the comparison ends.
I just think it's great to see an Aviation program on TV with fantastic scenery thrown in.
Good on ya guys and girls.....
I'd much rather have them as a future SO than others...
Good on ya guys and girls.....
I'd much rather have them as a future SO than others...
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
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skywagondriver; I concede your observation that the Pilots there are doing a good job. That much is agreed without argument.
However; Having viewed the whole series when it was previously aired I still maintain that some of the scenes depicted were hyped up just to make things more dramatic.
It's not even PNG in the early 90's! The equipment depicted in this show is not only better; I'd call it far superior to some of the BN2's I flew around the place back in early 92.
Plus none of the strips shown were even a patch on places such as Kanabea, Kamulai, Oram or Iaura.
Bodinumu or Dorobisoro as well, for that matter.
Maybe I've had one too many Reds over the years but can you elaborate? A genuine question btw.
And no-one I worked with ever came home after a days flying to a fully serviced Flat/Apartment with its own live-in Cook.
As is depicted in later episodes of this show.
Please do not get me wrong skywagondriver; My views expressed in this and my other post should not be viewed as being critical of you or the Pilots depicted in this 'documentary.' However, I feel that the show itself had more than a few scenes/scenarios where journalistic licence was used to hype things up, purely for dramatical purposes!
However; Having viewed the whole series when it was previously aired I still maintain that some of the scenes depicted were hyped up just to make things more dramatic.
it's definitely not even PNG in the early '70s...sure, the equipment is better .
The equipment depicted in this show is not only better; I'd call it far superior to some of the BN2's I flew around the place back in early 92.Plus none of the strips shown were even a patch on places such as Kanabea, Kamulai, Oram or Iaura.
Bodinumu or Dorobisoro as well, for that matter.
but that's where the comparison ends
And no-one I worked with ever came home after a days flying to a fully serviced Flat/Apartment with its own live-in Cook.
As is depicted in later episodes of this show.Please do not get me wrong skywagondriver; My views expressed in this and my other post should not be viewed as being critical of you or the Pilots depicted in this 'documentary.' However, I feel that the show itself had more than a few scenes/scenarios where journalistic licence was used to hype things up, purely for dramatical purposes!
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Agreed Pinky and Skywagondriver. Parts of the show definitely were over-dramatised for the audience. I was there when the filming was done, but working for another company, so not directly involved. The crew was British, hence the emphasis on their countrymen in their portrayal with just the odd Kiwi thrown in for local colour ;-)
It was only really later in the show that some of the more challenging Papua strips were thrown in, in the Porters. There are others the film crews didn't get to. A fair proportion of the show was shot in other parts of Indonesia too -not Papua- which wasn't necessarily made clear in the narrative. As I understand it, Papua and PNG strips and ops actually have quite a bit in common.
Sure, the gear we're using (we still have "Classics" too!) is a little more up-to-date than what you guys had -but there is still little in supporting infrastructure. Evidence of the similarities perhaps lies in the crash statistics for the area, particularly recently. Again similarly, it is less regularly the expats that are involved though.
The accomodations usually (for most of us) tend to be a lot less salubrious than has been portrayed also -certainly in Papua. Food hygiene is at best a notional theory for most too, with the easily imaginable consequences. Regularly.
Not a bad place to fly operationally, albeit with its challenges to live. A superb group of expats and social society make it tolerable ;-)
It was only really later in the show that some of the more challenging Papua strips were thrown in, in the Porters. There are others the film crews didn't get to. A fair proportion of the show was shot in other parts of Indonesia too -not Papua- which wasn't necessarily made clear in the narrative. As I understand it, Papua and PNG strips and ops actually have quite a bit in common.
Sure, the gear we're using (we still have "Classics" too!) is a little more up-to-date than what you guys had -but there is still little in supporting infrastructure. Evidence of the similarities perhaps lies in the crash statistics for the area, particularly recently. Again similarly, it is less regularly the expats that are involved though.
The accomodations usually (for most of us) tend to be a lot less salubrious than has been portrayed also -certainly in Papua. Food hygiene is at best a notional theory for most too, with the easily imaginable consequences. Regularly.
Not a bad place to fly operationally, albeit with its challenges to live. A superb group of expats and social society make it tolerable ;-)
Pinky - I just don't have the will or appetite to debate...maybe over a beer someday.
It's interesting that even a year after it was shown in the UK and Europe that the aviation community still think it was a great boost to GA and it is still commented on as I found out last month doing a bit of flying around.
Radio Saigon summed up Papua quite well.
Some of the pilots involved have moved on to so called 'bigger and better' equipment but will have great memories. I'd be up there if it wasn't for 'Father Time'...
It's interesting that even a year after it was shown in the UK and Europe that the aviation community still think it was a great boost to GA and it is still commented on as I found out last month doing a bit of flying around.
Radio Saigon summed up Papua quite well.
Some of the pilots involved have moved on to so called 'bigger and better' equipment but will have great memories. I'd be up there if it wasn't for 'Father Time'...
A "reality" TV show that is "over-dramatized" - who would have thunk it
I reckon take it for what it is and enjoy the scenery and aircraft, it is still light years ahead of any of the pony droppings produced in the US, Dust Off, Airplane Repo or even Ice Pilots. In my book the one about the Maun crew (Bush Pilots?) runs it a reasonable second, just sad that there isn't any more of Worst Place to be a Pilot to come. I also got sucked in by SBS advertising a new series, although that said, I enjoyed re-watching it when I got around to stoking up the PVR.
I reckon take it for what it is and enjoy the scenery and aircraft, it is still light years ahead of any of the pony droppings produced in the US, Dust Off, Airplane Repo or even Ice Pilots. In my book the one about the Maun crew (Bush Pilots?) runs it a reasonable second, just sad that there isn't any more of Worst Place to be a Pilot to come. I also got sucked in by SBS advertising a new series, although that said, I enjoyed re-watching it when I got around to stoking up the PVR.
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it's definitely not even PNG in the early '70s...sure, the equipment is better .
Quickly learned the lessons and survived to tell the tale before moving on to bigger and better things
After all that survey work we did in the 70s to make decent charts, I have not seen anyone in the series use one.
Maybe they are stored behind one of the screens.
Maybe they are stored behind one of the screens.
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There were no reasonable maps available until IndoAvis made some maps a few years ago based on SRTM data. The ONCs that were 'available' still had large blank spaces and the depictions of mountains did not come close to matching reality in many areas. I think they were based on data from the late 60s and until more recently (with print-on-demand websites) I don't think they were easy to come by. I heard that the RAAF and the TNI-AU (Indonesian Air Force) both had better maps, but neither was willing to provide them to civil operators. Things may have changed since I was looking for maps.
Pinky: Not wanting to get in a pissing match, I am genuinely curious. What about the strips you named made them difficult? I have basic information for the PNG airstrips from 2005 and they all appear to be fairly typical of village airstrips made in Papua when service was predominantly by 185s and 206s, although doglegs are very rare. A couple are steeper than the average, but nothing out-of-the-ordinary.
Pinky: Not wanting to get in a pissing match, I am genuinely curious. What about the strips you named made them difficult? I have basic information for the PNG airstrips from 2005 and they all appear to be fairly typical of village airstrips made in Papua when service was predominantly by 185s and 206s, although doglegs are very rare. A couple are steeper than the average, but nothing out-of-the-ordinary.
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
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they all appear to be fairly typical of village airstrips made in Papua when service was predominantly by 185s and 206s, although doglegs are very rare. A couple are steeper than the average, but nothing out-of-the-ordinary.
I think that you have to had flown into them to really appreciate just how difficult they could sometimes be. Just looking at a diagram really tells you little.With some of the mentioned strips you were committed as soon as you turned final or shortly thereafter, and as well, with one, (Iaura) the strip was out of sight from cross wind until short final.
I have basic information for the PNG airstrips from 2005
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Thanks Pinky.
I found a list of PNG airstrips dated 2005 online about six years ago. It does not have (or I edited out while formatting the data) headings but it appears to be a list of name, latitude, longitude, identifier, a number from 1-4 (difficulty level?), runway headings, TDZE, length (m), slope (degrees I think), direction of slope, and some very short notes (ie Land 14 T/O 32, soft, slippery, rough, etc). Not sure how complete or accurate it is, but it appears to cover all areas of PNG.
I found a list of PNG airstrips dated 2005 online about six years ago. It does not have (or I edited out while formatting the data) headings but it appears to be a list of name, latitude, longitude, identifier, a number from 1-4 (difficulty level?), runway headings, TDZE, length (m), slope (degrees I think), direction of slope, and some very short notes (ie Land 14 T/O 32, soft, slippery, rough, etc). Not sure how complete or accurate it is, but it appears to cover all areas of PNG.
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: 2,967
Received 93 Likes
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StudentPilot479; Check your pm's