What do I need to fly PNG?
 

I figure PNG is the closest international flight I can do. I have PPL. What other requirements do I need to fly to this international destination?

Cheers Ted

Are you wanting to fly around PNG or just to Port Moresby?
If you wish to fly around the country I would recommend a sit down with an experienced PNG pilot before you do so.

Do you hold an Instrument rating?

Does your aircraft have HF radio?

How many hours have you got ? It's not a place for amateurs.

I'm just looking for an international port in my log book. I currently planning a trip to Horn Island I figured if it isn't too complicated I might go the extra 100 miles. Daru sounds Ok. Is this a good place to stay?

I'll be flying a C182 (no HF), I have about 400hrs and a PIFR rating.

Cheers FT

"Daru sounds Ok. Is this a good place to stay?"

No, not really.

Agree with Killer Loop, what's your accommodation budget? I've stayed at The Crows Nest in Daru, about mid range as far as accommodation prices go there, not too bad if just for a night.

Hahaha - now that is funny! :E

Daru is def not a place to stay. I recommended flying into horn, refuel and spend the night, then the next day do Daru, coming home via some of the outer islands (such as Murray and Coconut).

It is a bit of paperwork, so make sure you don't take it lightly. As for the HF, if you stay on CTAF there will be plenty of aircraft around to hear you if you get into trouble. Just make sure you read up on the Horn Island ERSA procedure, as many pilots don't and make some serious mistakes (frequency, runway usage, etc).

Feel free to PM for general regional advice :)

FT

Daru is certainly not a "good" place to stay but if you're an experienced traveller (in third world countries) then I personally think there's no reason why you shouldn't stay there.

Would you be flying up from Melbourne? Because if you are then I retract my previous question asking about your accommodation budget because I assume an extra couple hundred bucks for the night wouldn't be too much of a problem, and in that case I could recommend another accommodation option.

Feel free to PM, I might even have some contact phone numbers there.... and you might be lucky enough for someone to answer one of said phones!! ;)

Thanks for all advice. I may follow up with a couple of you for details but at the moment I'm still trying to understand what I need to do both formally and prudently.

Yes I'm flying from Melbourne so I'm not too restricted by budget for accommodation etc. (I can't imagine paying more than I paid for my last trip to Kimberley.)

Let me summarise what I now know:
> All I need is my PPL to fly "internationally"
> The ESRA tells me I should have HF radio but you have told me staying on CTAF in contact with other traffic should be OK. I assume this means no "scheds" for the over water crossing or at least relying on relays. (I'm not sure I'm OK with this.)
> Daru is questionable as a stop but not out of the question. No one has suggested an alternative location so I'm guessing there aren't any other options worth considering.

Is this a fair assessment?

Thanks for the help.

Although the chance of being ramp-checked in Daru is somewhere way south of zero, I think you are also required to have an English proficiency endorsement in your licence to fly internationally.

Ahh...the Daru Hilton. Nice and peaceful with crayfish on the menu everyday....

Don't forget, your PIFR means squat outside of Australia.

morno

Tinny. The Daru Hilton that you and I are familiar with was burnt down years ago.

It is the only normal Customs entry port west of Port Moresby.

I thought entry had to be at Horn Island, not the outer islands without special arrangements?

Actually Tabubil is also a Customs entry point in PNG (North of Kiunga)

.......but not a place for someone to plan to arrive at without some local knowledge.

Doesn't the sign say international at Kairik too? :E