Northcoast Aviation in PNG
Grandpa Aerotart
When I turned up in late Dec 86 I was a 350 hr pilot. In January 87, a week or so after arriving I was offered a full time job and by the time I had 450 hours, a month or so after starting, I was flying the Islander more than the C185.
I left in December 87 and joined Talair with 1200 hrs of which 600+ was Islander, and never looked back...within 18 months I had 2400 hours and was left seat Twin Otter and on about PNG30K(AUS$45K+)+house+transport to/from work+fed while at work+full ID travel+annual leave fare.
Every 3 years, until the PNG Govt abolished the Gratuity system in the mid 90s I picked up about PNGK23,000.00 and sent it south which equated to A$34000.00.
Those days were blissfull...the law and order problems were probably not a LOT better than now but we were payed well, flew well maintained aircraft(mostly) under an excellent C&T system and had LOTS of FUN
PNGK9500? Mac was a mate and I knew he wasn't paying big money but that's pathetic.
Chuck
I left in December 87 and joined Talair with 1200 hrs of which 600+ was Islander, and never looked back...within 18 months I had 2400 hours and was left seat Twin Otter and on about PNG30K(AUS$45K+)+house+transport to/from work+fed while at work+full ID travel+annual leave fare.
Every 3 years, until the PNG Govt abolished the Gratuity system in the mid 90s I picked up about PNGK23,000.00 and sent it south which equated to A$34000.00.
Those days were blissfull...the law and order problems were probably not a LOT better than now but we were payed well, flew well maintained aircraft(mostly) under an excellent C&T system and had LOTS of FUN
PNGK9500? Mac was a mate and I knew he wasn't paying big money but that's pathetic.
Chuck
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I converted some ... errm LOTS ... of Kina to Oz dollars this morning at Westpac in downtown Port Morbid. To my absolute horror, found that each Kina was buying the princely 
sum of 39 Oz cents... 
I arrived in PNG at the end of March, 1984, when one Kina bought AUD1.33. I remember the rate going as high as AUD2.00 and I sure made a killing in those days!
But those days are long, long gone and the Kina has been heading south faster than most of the local pollies. 
Lake Evil ... when you come up here to check out the job and the conditions, also check the rate of exchange at a few banks. They will ALL always be slightly different from one another, but it'll give you an idea of what the pay will be worth in Oz dollar terms.
However, remember that NCA really IS an "entry level" company. They operate into difficult places and, sometimes, your days will be very long indeed. At other times, the weather will defeat you so completely that you'll be sitting in the office at Nadzab Airport drinking coffee all day long. But still being paid.
Remember too that you won't have any accommodation costs. The company will provide accommodation for you. You should NOT expect it to be flash or even luxurious, but you won't have to pay anything from your wages for it. Now think about what you might earn in a similar job in Oz and how much of that you pay out in rent.
You will, of course, be paying for your food at home and the average basket of groceries can be pretty expensive, if you go for top shelf name brands. However, as you'll undoubtedly be sharing accommodation with other pilots in the company, it's my guess that you'll all contribute toward the groceries ... you may, however, need a more formal arrangement with beer purchases tho!
Finally, I feel the need to say something about the hatchet job that's been done on this thread to GT, NCA's CP and a bloke I've known basically since my first day in country. He's always been a bit of a hard-ass, but he's been flying around the country for a VERY long time without major mishap.
I would suggest to you that, by doing things "his way" you are likely to live to a ripe old age. The final point is that, if you go in there looking for trouble, you'll find it with him. If you do the right thing by him, he will certainly do the right thing by you - he's not in the business of destroying aircraft or killing pilots, though I know of a few who sorely tempted him...
I wish you luck with whatever you decide to do.
sum of 39 Oz cents... I arrived in PNG at the end of March, 1984, when one Kina bought AUD1.33. I remember the rate going as high as AUD2.00 and I sure made a killing in those days!
But those days are long, long gone and the Kina has been heading south faster than most of the local pollies. Lake Evil ... when you come up here to check out the job and the conditions, also check the rate of exchange at a few banks. They will ALL always be slightly different from one another, but it'll give you an idea of what the pay will be worth in Oz dollar terms.
However, remember that NCA really IS an "entry level" company. They operate into difficult places and, sometimes, your days will be very long indeed. At other times, the weather will defeat you so completely that you'll be sitting in the office at Nadzab Airport drinking coffee all day long. But still being paid.
Remember too that you won't have any accommodation costs. The company will provide accommodation for you. You should NOT expect it to be flash or even luxurious, but you won't have to pay anything from your wages for it. Now think about what you might earn in a similar job in Oz and how much of that you pay out in rent.
You will, of course, be paying for your food at home and the average basket of groceries can be pretty expensive, if you go for top shelf name brands. However, as you'll undoubtedly be sharing accommodation with other pilots in the company, it's my guess that you'll all contribute toward the groceries ... you may, however, need a more formal arrangement with beer purchases tho!
Finally, I feel the need to say something about the hatchet job that's been done on this thread to GT, NCA's CP and a bloke I've known basically since my first day in country. He's always been a bit of a hard-ass, but he's been flying around the country for a VERY long time without major mishap.
I would suggest to you that, by doing things "his way" you are likely to live to a ripe old age. The final point is that, if you go in there looking for trouble, you'll find it with him. If you do the right thing by him, he will certainly do the right thing by you - he's not in the business of destroying aircraft or killing pilots, though I know of a few who sorely tempted him...
I wish you luck with whatever you decide to do.
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Well said Oz and i'm glad you spoke up- this thread has been rankling me since i found it, but i have been holding my tongue lest i become just another mudslinger in an already dirty thread. Now i'll try and add something useful...
The Honorable CP of NCA- not everyone's cup of tea, but what you give so you shall receive, in buckets. Does not suffer fools nor whiners gladly but for those who go up there and get on with it he will give a grudging respect. Respect, no matter your personal opinion, is due to him- he has flown over 15k hrs in some of the harshest conditions on this planet. Simply put, he is doing something right. He may not really teach you, but YOU can learn from him. YOUR choice.
NCA is not an airline, nor does it pretend to be. It is kind of an entry level, bush operation where a young pilot, who is not a whinger or a ratbag to quote from the "potpurri of bush techniques", can cut his/her teeth and learn some serious survival skills and the ability to think on your feet at all times. Not all of it is what you would take back to an airline, but if you do it right personally, stay disciplined and stick to the techniques, plus have some luck on your side you will be well off wherever you go.
If you want to work for an airline NOW, desire 5star (or even 3 star) accomodation, want high pay with low TT, like to be pampered to, have a phobia of guns, "coloured" persons, potholes, bad smells, pigs, chickens, smoke in the crew room, steep mountains and/or tropical weather (to name a few) then i would advise you stay well clear of NCA. But if you are up for an adventure, a bit of learning, a lot of fun and don't pack too many pre-conceptions, then buy a ticket to Lae and see what you think. BTW it used to be that you had to go up there under your own steam before any chance of getting a job... any one confirm?
Now my last bit before i PO (not that PO you lechers)- i work now in some of the ****tiest parts of this globe (no violins please)- make PNG look like kindy, yes hercs, yes warzones, yes certainly not everyones cup of tea but MORE IMPORTANTLY i am priveledged enough to work with these old war dogs (who would bag me for saying that) some of whom date back to Air America (not at all the movie) and the wars in between- serious heavy metal operators. Now don't get me wrong, i have trouble tying my shoelaces, but what i learnt at NCA has been an invaluable help in holding my own in the company of a group of professionals of such experience i didn't even know still existed years ago when i left Aus.
So take my words also with a grain of salt- they are but my humble and often ignorant opinion. If nothing else, i hope that i have helped even the tables a bit more for Capt Mutley and His Band of Merry Men up there in Lae.
HJ
PS my apologies in advance to anyone who feels the need to discuss my post with me right now, in a few hours i am off to feed the needy 20 tonnes at a time- for the next 3 months, so just hold that thought...
The Honorable CP of NCA- not everyone's cup of tea, but what you give so you shall receive, in buckets. Does not suffer fools nor whiners gladly but for those who go up there and get on with it he will give a grudging respect. Respect, no matter your personal opinion, is due to him- he has flown over 15k hrs in some of the harshest conditions on this planet. Simply put, he is doing something right. He may not really teach you, but YOU can learn from him. YOUR choice.
NCA is not an airline, nor does it pretend to be. It is kind of an entry level, bush operation where a young pilot, who is not a whinger or a ratbag to quote from the "potpurri of bush techniques", can cut his/her teeth and learn some serious survival skills and the ability to think on your feet at all times. Not all of it is what you would take back to an airline, but if you do it right personally, stay disciplined and stick to the techniques, plus have some luck on your side you will be well off wherever you go.
If you want to work for an airline NOW, desire 5star (or even 3 star) accomodation, want high pay with low TT, like to be pampered to, have a phobia of guns, "coloured" persons, potholes, bad smells, pigs, chickens, smoke in the crew room, steep mountains and/or tropical weather (to name a few) then i would advise you stay well clear of NCA. But if you are up for an adventure, a bit of learning, a lot of fun and don't pack too many pre-conceptions, then buy a ticket to Lae and see what you think. BTW it used to be that you had to go up there under your own steam before any chance of getting a job... any one confirm?
Now my last bit before i PO (not that PO you lechers)- i work now in some of the ****tiest parts of this globe (no violins please)- make PNG look like kindy, yes hercs, yes warzones, yes certainly not everyones cup of tea but MORE IMPORTANTLY i am priveledged enough to work with these old war dogs (who would bag me for saying that
) some of whom date back to Air America (not at all the movie) and the wars in between- serious heavy metal operators. Now don't get me wrong, i have trouble tying my shoelaces, but what i learnt at NCA has been an invaluable help in holding my own in the company of a group of professionals of such experience i didn't even know still existed years ago when i left Aus.So take my words also with a grain of salt- they are but my humble and often ignorant opinion. If nothing else, i hope that i have helped even the tables a bit more for Capt Mutley and His Band of Merry Men up there in Lae.
HJ
PS my apologies in advance to anyone who feels the need to discuss my post with me right now, in a few hours i am off to feed the needy 20 tonnes at a time- for the next 3 months, so just hold that thought...
Grandpa Aerotart
Lake Evil,
The best advice of this thread comes from Ozexpat and HJ.
PNG has always been what YOU made of it.
While the pay and general conditions are NOT what they were the flying hasn't changed one wit.
IFR sans A/P has always been more the norm than the exception in PNG.
'Personal LSALTs' were something I, and more than a few others I suspect, used when needed. HOWEVER they were calculated properly, using all the approved splays + buffers. I had one from overhead Lake Trist to Lae which required me to be VISUAL over the Lake and above a certain height + Lae NDB working before going IMC...but it was legal and safe...and got me home a few times when the other options were less so or at least very time consuming! I used to fly Islander loads of day old chicks to Madang and had a simple system of DME distances and VOR radials from Madang to keep me in the middle of the Ramu until I picked up the NZB aids which allowed me to fly IFR at a personal LSALT probably 6000' lower than the RNC Charts.
You worked them out YOURSELF and 'test flew' them in nice weather and they then became part of YOUR bag of tricks when the weather was Romeo Sierra.
All this before GPS hit the civil market!
I too have known GT for a LONG time, as well BP, Mike C and RL...none of them are bad guys but they have spent a life time in a system that bares no relation to the one in Australia...or even to the Territory. GT and RL between them probably have 40000 hours in PNG, I think I once heard that RL had 13000 hours just in his own C185...both have seen scores of pilots die and many more than that number of crashes...they don't want that to happen to you anymore than you do!
Go to PNG and spend a few weeks there...stay with the other NCA pilots and do a few flights in the copilots seat. That's the way it has always worked in PNG. You will either love it or hate it. If you love it and they think you are a reasonable dude they will give you a job.
If they give you a job work hard, listen hard and play hard, give your employer good value for the money they spend on you, don't bang up their aircraft, don't whinge about things too much, avoid people who do, DON'T DIE in PNG.
The vast amount of info available on this site, including pictures, should give you a vastly better idea about the place than those of my era...we just got on a QF flight and arrived without the faintest idea of what we were getting into...and the vast majority of us have not one regret.
An interesting thing occurred to me a few years ago. I arrived in Chimbu with a duffle bag over my shoulder, pilot's licence, a virtually empty logbook and about $10. Through the next nearly 13 years I married, had a child, aquired heaps of 'stuff', moved around all over PNG...but in the end thanks to divorce and the Volcanoes in Rabaul when I actually left PNG I didn't have a huge amount more stuff or money than when I arrived...but I had three full logbooks and a fourth on it's way.
And friends/memories that will be for life!
Chuck.
The best advice of this thread comes from Ozexpat and HJ.
PNG has always been what YOU made of it.
While the pay and general conditions are NOT what they were the flying hasn't changed one wit.
IFR sans A/P has always been more the norm than the exception in PNG.
'Personal LSALTs' were something I, and more than a few others I suspect, used when needed. HOWEVER they were calculated properly, using all the approved splays + buffers. I had one from overhead Lake Trist to Lae which required me to be VISUAL over the Lake and above a certain height + Lae NDB working before going IMC...but it was legal and safe...and got me home a few times when the other options were less so or at least very time consuming! I used to fly Islander loads of day old chicks to Madang and had a simple system of DME distances and VOR radials from Madang to keep me in the middle of the Ramu until I picked up the NZB aids which allowed me to fly IFR at a personal LSALT probably 6000' lower than the RNC Charts.
You worked them out YOURSELF and 'test flew' them in nice weather and they then became part of YOUR bag of tricks when the weather was Romeo Sierra.
All this before GPS hit the civil market!
I too have known GT for a LONG time, as well BP, Mike C and RL...none of them are bad guys but they have spent a life time in a system that bares no relation to the one in Australia...or even to the Territory. GT and RL between them probably have 40000 hours in PNG, I think I once heard that RL had 13000 hours just in his own C185...both have seen scores of pilots die and many more than that number of crashes...they don't want that to happen to you anymore than you do!
Go to PNG and spend a few weeks there...stay with the other NCA pilots and do a few flights in the copilots seat. That's the way it has always worked in PNG. You will either love it or hate it. If you love it and they think you are a reasonable dude they will give you a job.
If they give you a job work hard, listen hard and play hard, give your employer good value for the money they spend on you, don't bang up their aircraft, don't whinge about things too much, avoid people who do, DON'T DIE in PNG.
The vast amount of info available on this site, including pictures, should give you a vastly better idea about the place than those of my era...we just got on a QF flight and arrived without the faintest idea of what we were getting into...and the vast majority of us have not one regret.
An interesting thing occurred to me a few years ago. I arrived in Chimbu with a duffle bag over my shoulder, pilot's licence, a virtually empty logbook and about $10. Through the next nearly 13 years I married, had a child, aquired heaps of 'stuff', moved around all over PNG...but in the end thanks to divorce and the Volcanoes in Rabaul when I actually left PNG I didn't have a huge amount more stuff or money than when I arrived...but I had three full logbooks and a fourth on it's way.
And friends/memories that will be for life!
Chuck.
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 26th Oct 2002 at 10:39.
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This is a very small country Bendigo and the industry has been hard hit over the last 10 years or so, because of the very poor rate of exchange between the Kina and the US dollar. For those who've been here and haven't heard, APNG (previously known as MBA) has closed its' operation at Tabubil. For those that don't understand the significance of this, the industry here is in decline... massively.
NCA is about the only one that a low-timer is ever likely to get a shot at here. Other GA companies are either smaller (with few opportunities for employment) or much bigger (with their own cadetships etc.).
Island Airways at Madang might be a possibility.
PO Box 747 Madang
Fax +675 852 2353
Vanair at Vanimo is about the only other one that you could try.
PO Box 167 Vanimo
Fax +675 857 1272
I'm not confident that either of these will have vacancies and am not up on their requirements. Thus, no guarantees, but a fax doesn't cost much to send. More of a gamble, financially, to come here as a visitor (ie tourist) and go see these companies, but you might get a better reception that way.
NCA is about the only one that a low-timer is ever likely to get a shot at here. Other GA companies are either smaller (with few opportunities for employment) or much bigger (with their own cadetships etc.).
Island Airways at Madang might be a possibility.
PO Box 747 Madang
Fax +675 852 2353
Vanair at Vanimo is about the only other one that you could try.
PO Box 167 Vanimo
Fax +675 857 1272
I'm not confident that either of these will have vacancies and am not up on their requirements. Thus, no guarantees, but a fax doesn't cost much to send. More of a gamble, financially, to come here as a visitor (ie tourist) and go see these companies, but you might get a better reception that way.
Interesting comment on wages. When I went to PNG in 1964 with Steamies my starting wage was ₤1,200 per year (now $2,400) – double the salary I left behind in Australia.
When I left Talair and PNG in 1985, my final salary was around K40,000 and an exchange rate of Aus$1.35 = NGK 1.00, still a princely sum by Aussie standards. We had ID travel and free accommodation but it was before the days of the perks - overseas school fees, gratuities etc.
Compares very favourably with my salary of $45,000 per annum as the first General Manager of Flight West Airlines.
When I left Talair and PNG in 1985, my final salary was around K40,000 and an exchange rate of Aus$1.35 = NGK 1.00, still a princely sum by Aussie standards. We had ID travel and free accommodation but it was before the days of the perks - overseas school fees, gratuities etc.
Compares very favourably with my salary of $45,000 per annum as the first General Manager of Flight West Airlines.
I am currrently based in Lae living in the NCA compound working for another company. I have been here for 3 months now, and PNG is sure an adventure. The flying is the best you will ever do. The Yacht Club on a Friday night, cheep beer, Planet of the Apes if you so desire, all make it worthwhile. The biggest downside at the moment is the Kina exchange rate, as of tonight is .339.
Other than the drive to Nadzab to work every day, most days are fun and enjoyable.
AND NO I don't go to the Post Office!!!!!!!............YET
Other than the drive to Nadzab to work every day, most days are fun and enjoyable.
AND NO I don't go to the Post Office!!!!!!!............YET
Grandpa Aerotart
Planet of the Apes?
Is that a nightclub in Lae these days?
Ahh the Lae yachty...great spot on a Friday evening...although stories of Talair pilots urinating on patrons from upstairs, and throwing furniture at those that had the temerity to object are vastly exagerated
I do remember roaring back and forth on Marty Yardes new jet ski...causing great squealing from the yachty radios...and the assembled patronage...didn't stop us, or even slow us down from memory
Is Wissang still the agent at Wasu? Could tell some stories about her when she was a youngster
If so tell her high from Captain Chuck from Talair...well that's what she called me:o
Spent two years based in Lae 88/89....loved it!!
Still in those days there was little I didn't love about PNG..I was most assuredly unde her spell...and stayed that way for 10 more years!
Chuck.
Is that a nightclub in Lae these days?
Ahh the Lae yachty...great spot on a Friday evening...although stories of Talair pilots urinating on patrons from upstairs, and throwing furniture at those that had the temerity to object are vastly exagerated
I do remember roaring back and forth on Marty Yardes new jet ski...causing great squealing from the yachty radios...and the assembled patronage...didn't stop us, or even slow us down from memory
Is Wissang still the agent at Wasu? Could tell some stories about her when she was a youngster
If so tell her high from Captain Chuck from Talair...well that's what she called me:o
Spent two years based in Lae 88/89....loved it!!
Still in those days there was little I didn't love about PNG..I was most assuredly unde her spell...and stayed that way for 10 more years!
Chuck.
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Lake Evil, the best advice from this post is come up & look for yourself. See where you will fly, where you will live & talk to those who are here at present. I dont fly for NCA, but have been on there routes & the flying is not for everyone. Yes you will find the pay very ordinary, but even the company Im with pays very poorly, in comparison to Australia.
But take a look at the exchange rate, & the rocket scientists who are running this country at present. The political system up here is designed for the elite few who get into parliment to loot & pillage. You would be suprised the amount of times I get asked when is Australia coming back to run the place. Enough of that though!
The time in your logbook & the general life experience is all good. Do take note of what some of the earlier posts on the forum say, as some guys were royally f#*ked by the company.
You are your own person, so it is entirely up to you to make up your mind!!
And yes personal safety is an issue, I, as I imagine others have, have been held up at gun point on the way to work in Lae. They took all our flying gear simply for beer money to watch the State of Origin. So consider all factors.
There is only so many times you want a shot gun in your face during your life. Ive now had it happen once, & had another attempted holdup on the way back from work within the last few months!!!!!
Come visit tropical paradise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But take a look at the exchange rate, & the rocket scientists who are running this country at present. The political system up here is designed for the elite few who get into parliment to loot & pillage. You would be suprised the amount of times I get asked when is Australia coming back to run the place. Enough of that though!
The time in your logbook & the general life experience is all good. Do take note of what some of the earlier posts on the forum say, as some guys were royally f#*ked by the company.
You are your own person, so it is entirely up to you to make up your mind!!
And yes personal safety is an issue, I, as I imagine others have, have been held up at gun point on the way to work in Lae. They took all our flying gear simply for beer money to watch the State of Origin. So consider all factors.
There is only so many times you want a shot gun in your face during your life. Ive now had it happen once, & had another attempted holdup on the way back from work within the last few months!!!!!
Come visit tropical paradise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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LakeEvil,
It's an amazing place but even going back to the late seventies in our house, a .22 Berreta in a shoulder holster slung over the bed head every night,makes for an interesting life.I believe that weapon is now on the streets,great! But don't let me put you off I plan on heading back for a peek when I get the chance.
Good luck
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE
It's an amazing place but even going back to the late seventies in our house, a .22 Berreta in a shoulder holster slung over the bed head every night,makes for an interesting life.I believe that weapon is now on the streets,great! But don't let me put you off I plan on heading back for a peek when I get the chance.
Good luck
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE
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have you ever seen Richards' .357....now that puts Dirty Harry to shame , apparently he had a gun pulled on him once on his way to Nadzab...don't think he's had too many problems since 
, apparently he had a gun pulled on him once on his way to Nadzab...don't think he's had too many problems since
Last edited by lurch; 4th Nov 2003 at 09:05.
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Same fleet (bit older now), same routes, same management, same 40 minute drive out to Nadzab.
Talk of getting a fourth Bongo...
Not hiring right now, but who knows when the next pilot will leave?
Talk of getting a fourth Bongo...
Not hiring right now, but who knows when the next pilot will leave?
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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I fully support the comments by Chuckles, Ozexpat, Herk Jerk and a few others. I was in Moresby with Simbu when NCA took over their Moresby ops and found GT to be fair enough if you did your job and did'nt whinge about it.
I flew with him a number of times when he checked me for various routes and was never asked to do anything that I would have considered unsafe.
He certainly does'nt suffer fools gladly or otherwise for that matter.
Sadly; in the end it was me who let him down, something for which I still have'nt forgiven myself!
By all means Lake Evil; go there and have a look at the place. Follow the advice given by the above mentioned and I guarantee you will be well rewarded by the experience.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
I flew with him a number of times when he checked me for various routes and was never asked to do anything that I would have considered unsafe.
He certainly does'nt suffer fools gladly or otherwise for that matter.
Sadly; in the end it was me who let him down, something for which I still have'nt forgiven myself!
By all means Lake Evil; go there and have a look at the place. Follow the advice given by the above mentioned and I guarantee you will be well rewarded by the experience.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
Who was the deaf bloke...?
I went over to Nadzab in Aug '00 to meet GT in the hope of securing employment.
Flying over to Nadzab blew me away, the scenery was unbelievable and some of the stories told to me by the then CP of Tropic Air in Morseby where incredible. Nice bloke PM.
On arrival GT told it to me like it was, he didn't dress it up from what I can gather and he made all conditions transparent. Unfortunately some of the earlier posts highlighting the aircraft deficiencies in terms of VFR capable (barely) doing IFR in cloud at dot feet going into the Kawbum valley through 20 mile gap are true.
When I asked GT about a recent accident that (from memory) was partly pilot error, contributed to by the fact that he was not checked into the said strip (from the horses mouth) as is required by regs. He said that this was
unfortunately said pilot (I saw his picture on the back of the crewroom door) is no longer with us to agree.
I initially reasoned with myself that if GT can survive this long then surely if I follow his lead and listen to everything he said, I would be all right and in no time have a log book full of great experience on BN2's and C402's.
People have a funny way of being able to talk themselves into anything given a certain need or desire. When I spoke to another young bloke up there who believe it or not was trying to sell the place to me, I was informed of the amount of accidents that GT had been involved in, there but for the grace of God go I (or words to that effect) came to mind.
I had made my decision not to stay in a very short period of time based on an informed opinion first hand and with all the facts available to me.
I indicated this to GT and thanked him for his time. To this end he understood my reasons and appreciated my honesty, he then took me down to the local Golf club and together we had lunch and talked about some of the other more interesting aspects of PNG. To some extent I felt like a bit of traitor as G was quite a nice bloke in many respects, I do not however, regret my decision.
What I would like to know is whether the guy who was going to fly me back to Moresby in the 402 in the wee hours of the morning is still up there. He was owner of one or both of the 402's and had been living there since Adam was a boy. He carried some ridiculously large firearm wherever he went and was as deaf as a post.
Our departure preparation consisted of closing the rear door checking the fuel and subsequently having a complete lighting failure post start-up. We taxied out anyway (why I stayed in that plane I do not know) After several failed attempts to establish radio contact with Nadzab tower, old mate gave the game away.
I have tried to give as balanced a post as I could from first hand evidence. Make up your own mind (I am sure you probably have by now) keep in mind however that you do not have to do a deal with the Devil to get a break into twin flying. Two and a half years later with over 800 multi and on good money thank you very much I am living proof.
Willie
Flying over to Nadzab blew me away, the scenery was unbelievable and some of the stories told to me by the then CP of Tropic Air in Morseby where incredible. Nice bloke PM.
On arrival GT told it to me like it was, he didn't dress it up from what I can gather and he made all conditions transparent. Unfortunately some of the earlier posts highlighting the aircraft deficiencies in terms of VFR capable (barely) doing IFR in cloud at dot feet going into the Kawbum valley through 20 mile gap are true.
When I asked GT about a recent accident that (from memory) was partly pilot error, contributed to by the fact that he was not checked into the said strip (from the horses mouth) as is required by regs. He said that this was
water under the bridge
I initially reasoned with myself that if GT can survive this long then surely if I follow his lead and listen to everything he said, I would be all right and in no time have a log book full of great experience on BN2's and C402's.
People have a funny way of being able to talk themselves into anything given a certain need or desire. When I spoke to another young bloke up there who believe it or not was trying to sell the place to me, I was informed of the amount of accidents that GT had been involved in, there but for the grace of God go I (or words to that effect) came to mind.
I had made my decision not to stay in a very short period of time based on an informed opinion first hand and with all the facts available to me.
I indicated this to GT and thanked him for his time. To this end he understood my reasons and appreciated my honesty, he then took me down to the local Golf club and together we had lunch and talked about some of the other more interesting aspects of PNG. To some extent I felt like a bit of traitor as G was quite a nice bloke in many respects, I do not however, regret my decision.
What I would like to know is whether the guy who was going to fly me back to Moresby in the 402 in the wee hours of the morning is still up there. He was owner of one or both of the 402's and had been living there since Adam was a boy. He carried some ridiculously large firearm wherever he went and was as deaf as a post.
Our departure preparation consisted of closing the rear door checking the fuel and subsequently having a complete lighting failure post start-up. We taxied out anyway (why I stayed in that plane I do not know) After several failed attempts to establish radio contact with Nadzab tower, old mate gave the game away.
I have tried to give as balanced a post as I could from first hand evidence. Make up your own mind (I am sure you probably have by now) keep in mind however that you do not have to do a deal with the Devil to get a break into twin flying. Two and a half years later with over 800 multi and on good money thank you very much I am living proof.
Willie
Thats him!...... He was funny to watch when he started shouting in pigeon at the nats you didn't want to be in his way, probably just as well he carried the RPG I mean handgun, he might need it one day.
