L100 Ops in PNG Nadzab to Mendi? 1980 -81?
 

Nadzab was home to a civil US registered Herc for a few weeks around 1980. It used to fly sorties to the highlands somewhere, Mendi rings a distant bell. Can anyone remember the company / operators name?

I know of the 90's Southern Air Transport ops and the more recent Lyndon cargo.

Yes, remember it well. The initial reason was to fly fuel into Ok Tedi at Tabubil when the Fly River dried up and the barges could not get through to Kiunga.

Some vague recollection suggests it was an ex RAAF C130A but I doubt that as I don't think the military C130 could be registered in Australia? (Three ex RAAF C130A's were registered in the Philippines by Aboiltz Air Freight.)

It was an Australian Company, think they eventually went broke?

There were a couple of Herc operators, firstly Transamerican with an L100, who used the callsign "tee-vee ten" (not sure what the rego was) and operated Nadzab-Tari for 2 or 3 months.

In 1982 when the Fly River dried up Cargomasters (an Australian company) operated 2 L100's VH-CYO (which ironically is now operated by Lynden Air Cargo who hold a PNG AOC) and N106AK. These two aircraft operated Madang-Kiunga and also only lasted 2 or 3 months. Cargomasters folded soon after this contract ended.

http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/hercules/h1vhcyo.htm

Southern Air Transport came and went a few times, but did not operate internally in PNG.

Chimbu,

Just run a quick check on your "Lynden Air cargo hold PNG AOC etc". I believe they surrendered the AOC early last year ? and they currently are 'piggy backing' on another RPT operators AOC. Worth checking...

Parked in Cairns for well over 12 months; been a long time since flown, even to keep the running bits in good order!https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....58115f8001.jpg

Guess I am behind the times, but I do note that their recent (and less frequent) movements have been N-registered. I think P2-LAC has reverted to US registration.

Heard a story (accuracy unknown) that ownership of this Kingair is disputed, and hence work on it has ceased. Not sure who the disputing parties are.

Here is the history of the Cargomasters' Hercules:

VH-CYO

I'll check on the Herc rego later today..

In the B200 pic, behind in the background is P2-EUV, been there for 4 years now with one engine removed, believed in a box a Hawkers. new Avionics refit has been partially removed. I think the aircraft was operated by Pacific Jets, based in POM.
The latest attempts for a replacement is P2-MRM, also a Citation II now parked at Maroochydore since Sept 2017 and due for 'heavy' maintenance. Not flown for 15 months.

Yes, Lynden surrendered their PNG AOC in about that time frame. No aircraft currently on the PNG registry. P2-LAC and P2-LAE are now P4-LAC and P4-LAE respectively. P2-LAD has returned to it's former US registration, N402LC. Recent operations in PNG have been under PNG Air's AOC.

Perhaps I'm not understanding your meaning, but I would say that SAT did operate internally in PNG. They had an operation based at Nadzab for some years, and did considerable flying within PNG. Primarily to Moro, but other points as well.

Didn't that belong to CASA PNG? (Ostensibly, anyway) Or am I thinking of another KingAir?

CASA PNG, previously had a C-90, P2-CAA, and upon arrival of the B350 the PM's dept. they surrendered the B200 s/n: BB415 (P2-PNG to become the new P2-CAA) to CASA PNG where upon it was neglected and now sits unloved in the very back of the Air Wing hangar. Absolute disgrace the way the PNG Government treat all their assets.

B200 P2-PNG at the time was the "Moresby Gliding Clubs" only glider .......................

B200 P2-PNG also became P2-PNH upon arrival of the Gulfstream II, which took over the 'Admiral Barge' rego.

Hi A Squared thanks for the Herc update (straight from the source), and yes you are correct SAT did operate internally. I was thinking of a few one-off trips they did to POM.

Regarding the Kingair, heard that the ownership dispute relates to who is liable for the bill.

P2-EUV has been there at least 4 years, and heard it may get parted out. The PNG owners were advised against buying it due to needing major avionics upgrade (TAWS etc) but couldn't resist the "attractive" price. It soon became obvious that the "sweet deal" was no deal at all.

Chimbu Warrior you aced it! Tee Vee Ten was the callsign

I think that C90 was originally P2-PNB and owned by the PNG Banking Corp. I seem to recall it did a wheels up at Jacksons?

Tail W

Correct!