Travel Air PNG
 

Has anybody ever heard of them. They are looking for a Dash-8 fleet captain to manage 6 captains and 8 f/o based in New Britain.
Position advertised on AVCANADA

Looking at the contact name I would tread very carefully.

Do you have the ad?
Or the link as none of this reads right.
But hey I guess thats why it is a rumour mill :hmm:

From a PNG friend: :uhoh:


Quote-
.He is a national chap living in rabaul...he's into all sorts of things, he has friends in high places....he seems to get paid large amounts of money to do construction work etc that never seems to get done ...get the picture, he also owns Travel Car, a car rental busness.......it will be a brand new start from the ground up operaton if it ever gets going with Dash 8-100's....

Ahhhhh..
If I was a betting man it will never get off the ground.;)
CAA are having trouble keeping up with APNG, Transair, Hevilift, Tropairs AOCs let alone a new player :}
But stranger things have happened :ok:
The PMs son was able to get a chopper company AOC in about 24hrs :suspect:

Would be a great job if the aircraft were suitable,ie had APUs and good ground support at all the ports.

Pimp Daddy,I totally agree with your comments.

Travel Air
 

They advertised again today in PC... from senior Mangement through to Cabin Crew.. anticipating ops from "early" 2011 pending AOC...

TBM
The chap behind this would happen to be a politiciation (or X) would he,as this kind of thing fits the stereotype in PNG !

In the paper this week he was talking about getting 2 F-100s on top of the 2 dash-8-100, does anyone know if its worth sending them a cv?

macdonaldjames93

Honestly, the way things work in PNG - you never know... Might be the next KLM... couple months pay in advance wouldnt be a bad thing though...

Anything is very possible up here not to mention the fact that their would be plenty of work around the islands for a couple of little Dash 8s,the F100 talk could be a big juicy carrot hanging from the big blue yonda,in an effort to attract other experienced and current Dash 8 pilots from the other two operators up here. Having said that,if they were prepared to be competitive with the pay and offer tours,I don't think they would have a shortage of suitable local applicants,even with our Canadian friend involved.

i believe in him. he can only try we all know it is a capital intensive game. see whats he pulls out of the hat. PX have been leaving on hard earn taxes and yet to prove a constant dividend stream to the taxpayers. if this guy is willing I think he got what it takes. I believe our friend the Canadian have joint up with with together with a few key PX staff. Good luck on him.

I believe the F100 is cheaper than the Dash 8. I believe him given Dash eight is more expensive in todays market. He may enter the market with the cheaper version rumours says.

I would have thought a couple of DHC-8-100's would be somewhat cheaper to lease/purchase than a couple of Fokkers. Getting the right people also will be a headache, not to mention a Part 121 AOC as CASA PNG are currently grossly under staffed. I would be very surprised if this operation ever gets off the ground.

Off the topic a bit, I believe that a new operator has started up in Southern Bougainville (Buin). I believe the company is called BRA ! Operating Islanders and are apparently getting Harbin Y-12's.

I know we shouldn't be spreading rumors but someone once told me that if you haven't heard one by 10 start one, so here it goes a little birdie told me that this Travel Air is planning big they want to play in the same arena with PX(domestic), latest is 5 Dash 8 now a mix of 102,103,200 with more jets then originally predicted F-100s and possibly F-70s plans to pinch some mining contacts form apng and give Pixie a good run for their kina in the domestic market, Theirs even talks of sending some balus to the Solomons to operate there. They advertising for pilots in the States and Canada maybe Australia and NZ but I've only seen one quicky AD on paper here(PNG)
Does any one have a contact for the owners of the this new mob some of us at 7mile have alots of Qs for them and maybe they can shed some light on all these exciting rumors we're hearing.

Word is that some (5+) PX Gingerbeers have now signed up with Travel Air, PX Flight crew are looking for contact details, and Cabin Crew.......well.

If this gets off the ground,which it could from all indications at least it will give ANG a good rattle up. At a guess I'd say most of the staff will be ex disgruntled ANG staff.

I also notice that most of the gingerbeers who have left ANG will no doubt be key players in the establishment of their respective CAA licences and approvals.

I have no doubt that their will also be pilots from ANG jump ship,as for cabin crew,I think everyone knows the answer to that,at least they won't have to wear uniforms that are uncomfortable due to the warm weather.

Good luck to them,the people of PNG really deserve another airline as ANG still has the monopoly on the industry,even with APNG.

Will people really dessert thier current employer, the national flag carrier to join a start up where the future is uncertain? Doesn't appear to be a wise career move to me?

Trex sounds excited....!

2-1 says it never gets off the ground

Travel Air PNG
 

It seems this start up is still struggling to launch operations but gaining some momentum.

More people have joined their staff from PX and APNG and CASA has applications for aircraft registration with the importations schduled for several weeks from now

Madang has been invaded by the launch team, a hangar leased along with housing for 10 flight crews, offices rented and local office staff is being hired.

It might be real.

If it's done right, pitched at the mining market, with the right people and with enough financial backing it could be real. The other players have had their chance. Aviation can be profitable in PNG, which is more than can be said for many other places on this planet.
If Madang is to be the base, it should be easier to attract people than if it were Moresby or Hagen.
But if this start-up is dependent on tourism it is probably doomed.

Hiring
 

It seems Travel Air in PNG has commenced hiring and have the first 6 pilots on staff. (all PNG experienced)
I understand they are commencing their simulator training in the next couple weeks.
Looks like something must be happening on aircraft deliveries if they are training.

Good luck boys, looks like a few more wantoks may be joining you guys shortly. The lieutenants have lost their power it would appear ! :ok:

PNG - inhospitable terrain, weather that changes on a dime, poor nav aids - what's it got going for it?

Corrupt police, cheap beer, cheap hookers

...and that's just the church social meeting.

What's PNG got going for it ?
 

Minning boom !

If Travel Air works some may very well have traded for a much higher seniority slot and perhaps even better conditions.

Depending on circumstances sometimes the punt is worth taking.

what's it got going for it?
 

How about the best damn flying you'll ever do in your life?

I'm liking the sound of this gamble.
Where do I sign up?
As I like the pains of PNG :E

sign up
 

Mate the sign up is easy enough:
[email protected]

They are looking for 12 crews for type training starting in 4 to 6 weeks in Amsterdam on the F50.
1500 PIC of a Dash 8 would rate a Senoir Captain Salary.

Latest information from Rumour Control Centre.
John has been locked out of the hangar - Travel Air "paid someone" to gazump lease.
No longer Dash 8's, Now ATR's.
Twin Otters coming as well under Joint Venture with a Madang Operator.
Big Hangar is being handed to Islands Airways.
Green Hangar is being refurbed for Islands Airways.

Travel Air
 

Hey folks, just tot i'd share a bit of infor i gathered on the above....He is from New Ireland correct....He owns Queen Emma Lodge & Travel Cars???

Dnt wanna guess the name but he met with Paul Tiensten, Planning Minister recently with regards to the above subject...He's got people up in the ranks...I heard he offerd K500,000 annual package to an ANG Department GM...Sounds like the pollies are cheaping in for the starting capital....pilots yes...APNG & ANG pilots, a couple have being approached...huge verbal packages offered...so on..

I am all for it...We need competition...Scale of his operations i bet it is enough to penetrate and split the market that APNG & ANG is currently sharing...bring it on...and besides, it's 100% nationally owned...

Correct me if i am wrong...Peace....Jay:cool:

There is a lot of senior pilots within PNG playing musical chairs at the moment. All the guys that I know who have/are about to jump ship from their employers have absolutely nothing to loose as they are all highly employable else where in the industry, if their new jobs go belly up. Good to see pilots now have other opportunities thanks to companies like Travel Air.

I have some information that may interest you. I also would like some questions answered myself!

Here's what I know...
The FOM ("RW") who is setting up the operation is a very, very experienced fellow. He is a pre-89'er and has extensive experience not only in Fokker aircraft but all over the world. He's a realist. How TravelAir have sourced him, and convinced him to stay on and set up the operation is beyond me. They must be paying him alot of Kina! Rightly or wrongly, they have the correct person setting the joint up. In more recent times he'd been flying the F100 for Alliance in Brissy.

They have 4 F50's arriving some time soon. 1 is from KLM and the other 3 are from Malaysia Airlines.

The simulator sessions will be run in Kuala Lumper at Malaysia Airlines sim centre. Crew (including RW) have already been up there doing simulator sessions.

The 'money bags' is from Rabual and apparently has a bottomless wallet.

Routes initially with be covering POM, MADANG, BUKA, RABAUL

Captains will be sourced from ANG. They are, however, keen to find people with F50 C&T experience.

Capts Salary = AU$130, 000 and FO = AU$85, 000 with a 10% addition for C&T's

Expat contracts will be for 12 months, with negotiable tours. The initial commitment will be at least a 2 month tour.

Word has it they are quite keen to get into Lihir island.

Here's some questions I want answered:

What is the likelyhood of being able to extend your contract once it's up?

What is the likelyhood of them getting their AOC by june/july?

Why Madang?

Rumour going around PX at the moment is that two captains who pulled the pin to go to Travel Air have asked for their jobs back. They have been re employed from what I can gather.

Anyone know what's going on ? CASA problems or maybe pay issues ? Who knows but it's very wierd.

From what I hear Travel Air cut pays significantly over night ( K30 000 ):{
And flying now not starting til APR next year. Not too sure on that rumour though.:E
One of the guys has been re-employed and given F100 command is the rumour:confused::ugh::mad::mad::confused::eek:

Vee Tail
where did you hear these rumours / cheers

I heard it from 215 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like my money is still good!:cool: