PNG : Flying in Papua New Guinea
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Pacific Helicopters PNG
Just looking for contact details of the above group, not looking for a job.
Do they still have the SA330's stored or flying?
Were the 330's any good above 8000ft DA?
Need some Info from the ol' 330 drivers.
Do they still have the SA330's stored or flying?
Were the 330's any good above 8000ft DA?
Need some Info from the ol' 330 drivers.
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I understand the "J"s are still hiding in the back of the hangar.
I thought that they did a pretty good job....certainly above 8000' there wasn't any competition from anything with Bell stamped on it (but there were no 214Bs up there!!) having said that it was a bit hard (!) to compete with the KV107s and the Kamov32s that were there as well ...those tandem rotors could LIFT!.
I thought that they did a pretty good job....certainly above 8000' there wasn't any competition from anything with Bell stamped on it (but there were no 214Bs up there!!) having said that it was a bit hard (!) to compete with the KV107s and the Kamov32s that were there as well ...those tandem rotors could LIFT!.
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The puma's have been out of action for a very long time and
I've heard they breed chickens in them now
Those 3 Puma's did very well for Smithy but as previously mentioned above were no competition for the russian stuff
I think one of the former pilots is now working for East Asia out of Macau
Em tasol
I've heard they breed chickens in them now
Those 3 Puma's did very well for Smithy but as previously mentioned above were no competition for the russian stuff
I think one of the former pilots is now working for East Asia out of Macau
Em tasol
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The 330Js are better at altitude than at lower levels since the fuel consumption comes down to something reasonable! The performance does not drop off with altitude as much as on the 332, probably because everything is so relatively inefficient at sea level. You have to be very cautious when pulling pitch if the engines have spooled down below 76% in the descent otherwise you will be rewarded by a rather long stall and not much increase in power. My years flying the 330 in PNG highlands must have been the best 'seat of the pants' flying I will ever do.
What a shame if those three machines have ended up as chicken houses
Here are a few photos of those good old days:
P2-PHZ at O'Malley Peaks relay station, 11,000ft AMSL, 23rd May 1986, VR-BIG (On contract from Bristow) over Lake Kutabu with a cement hopper (C1986)
and the hangar with 2X330J and a BV107 of Colombia Helicopters
What a shame if those three machines have ended up as chicken houses
Here are a few photos of those good old days:
P2-PHZ at O'Malley Peaks relay station, 11,000ft AMSL, 23rd May 1986, VR-BIG (On contract from Bristow) over Lake Kutabu with a cement hopper (C1986)
and the hangar with 2X330J and a BV107 of Colombia Helicopters
Last edited by vertalop; 30th Dec 2002 at 07:22.
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Vertalop
Thats a heck of a big concrete bucket under the Puma. How much does it hold. The shot with the Vertol there of Columbias, is that the same place where the Chinook is based now.
AB
Thats a heck of a big concrete bucket under the Puma. How much does it hold. The shot with the Vertol there of Columbias, is that the same place where the Chinook is based now.
AB
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AB,
Sorry, can't remember the technical details of the rig bits and pieces. I think it weighed about 4500lbs empty, if they managed to get all the cement out. The max we could lift at 5000ft was about 5000lbs with enough fuel to do the trip and not much more. If the load didn't want to fly at a reasonable speed a bit of creative thinking was needed!!
I am not in touch with where the operations have moved to now.
Vert
Sorry, can't remember the technical details of the rig bits and pieces. I think it weighed about 4500lbs empty, if they managed to get all the cement out. The max we could lift at 5000ft was about 5000lbs with enough fuel to do the trip and not much more. If the load didn't want to fly at a reasonable speed a bit of creative thinking was needed!!
I am not in touch with where the operations have moved to now.
Vert
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GFS have just started operating the new EC 155's (5 I think) in addition to the 2 Super Puma's which they've had on line for a while
Very nice equipment and it should be I suppose at close to US$ 80 mil although I've heard the Puma's are having big reliability problems at the moment.
Local private operators are asking the question why HK needs such overkill ( including over 400 hundred employees) for such a small area especially with the concern the HK Gov. has with budget deficits and a very slow economy.
Trev is still with them but mainly in a C&T role I believe.
Nice guy very professional
If you knew the money he is on you would weep but he deserves every cent from what I've heard its like to be working there
Chinese bosses generally do not have a good reputation by westerners standards for the way they treat their workers
Vertalop what years were you with Pacific?
Very nice equipment and it should be I suppose at close to US$ 80 mil although I've heard the Puma's are having big reliability problems at the moment.
Local private operators are asking the question why HK needs such overkill ( including over 400 hundred employees) for such a small area especially with the concern the HK Gov. has with budget deficits and a very slow economy.
Trev is still with them but mainly in a C&T role I believe.
Nice guy very professional
If you knew the money he is on you would weep but he deserves every cent from what I've heard its like to be working there
Chinese bosses generally do not have a good reputation by westerners standards for the way they treat their workers
Vertalop what years were you with Pacific?
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All Blacks: That big bucket looks more like the beer rations on its way to the “Poroma (by the sea) Yacht Club” 
Vertalop: Great pics, I was there up to the end of ’86, after Tari. [In fact, the bottom pic looks a bit like Tari].
Is that Lake Kutubu in the background ? – I remember there were native burial sites in the cliffs around the edge.
There was also a waterfall in that area that just disappeared into a big hole in the ground. Never did see where it came out.
Vertalop: Great pics, I was there up to the end of ’86, after Tari. [In fact, the bottom pic looks a bit like Tari].
Is that Lake Kutubu in the background ? – I remember there were native burial sites in the cliffs around the edge.
There was also a waterfall in that area that just disappeared into a big hole in the ground. Never did see where it came out.
The Pacific 330's were torched in the GKA hangar last year, the culprit being a disguntled former employee as it turned out. The insurance company was suspicious and wanted to know where all the missing bits and pieces that were unaccountered for in the ashes, but they paid up in the end. The 330's are no more, and Mal got his insurance money. As for NC, yes, he is still in Macau, I'm sure he monitors this forum.
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Thanks
Thanks fellas, the questions have been answered, it only leeds to more questions.
We already have our hands on KA-32s for the job, but we still require a 330 (or 2) so if anyone knows if there are any hiding in the back of a hangar somewhere mail me.
Cheers and Happy New Year.
We already have our hands on KA-32s for the job, but we still require a 330 (or 2) so if anyone knows if there are any hiding in the back of a hangar somewhere mail me.
Cheers and Happy New Year.
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The latest on the Pumas is as follows. Two were destroyed in the fire that a disgruntled employee is rumoured to have set. The third one escaped becoming charcoal as is currently for sale, but Mal wants too much for it.
Some guy from Eurocopter came down to look at it but because it has been so long since it has flown the reality is it would probably cost more to get it flying again than it would to buy a new aircraft.
I am currently here in Pt Moresby and this came from Otto the base manager here, so there you have it folks, straight from the horses mouth, so to speak.
AB
Some guy from Eurocopter came down to look at it but because it has been so long since it has flown the reality is it would probably cost more to get it flying again than it would to buy a new aircraft.
I am currently here in Pt Moresby and this came from Otto the base manager here, so there you have it folks, straight from the horses mouth, so to speak.
AB
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Nev
Please give my regards to Otto.
Last time I spoke to him was just after the hijacking in POM when some bandits forced him to land on one of the banks to assist their comrades in a bank job that cost them the ultimate price in the end
10 points for the idea but 0 for the execution which was the conclusion for some of them LOL
PS Sounds like GOV. Mal hasn't changed
Please give my regards to Otto.
Last time I spoke to him was just after the hijacking in POM when some bandits forced him to land on one of the banks to assist their comrades in a bank job that cost them the ultimate price in the end
10 points for the idea but 0 for the execution which was the conclusion for some of them LOL
PS Sounds like GOV. Mal hasn't changed
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Otto was saying things are pretty quiet there now. Hevilift is the biggest operator and Pacific are down to around 10 machines. Hevilift have also offloaded the KA-32s to Heli Niugini and are now using Mi-8s (trying to get them certified - but thats pushing sh!t uphill).
The Columbia Chinook operation is going well. Spent the last three days with them doing a drill rig move for Santos from Kuri up to the top of the escarpments. Used at Heli Niugini 206L as photo ship. Wouldnt have wanted an engine failure over that countryside
PNG Police 407 is hangarbound awaiting parts from what I was told. Heli Niugini is busy with a lot of seismic work. Many reckon Islands wont be around for much longer and rumour has it Mal is not interested in Pacific that much anymore and it wont be long before the doors are shut. Remember these are heresay so take it for what its worth.
AB
The Columbia Chinook operation is going well. Spent the last three days with them doing a drill rig move for Santos from Kuri up to the top of the escarpments. Used at Heli Niugini 206L as photo ship. Wouldnt have wanted an engine failure over that countryside
PNG Police 407 is hangarbound awaiting parts from what I was told. Heli Niugini is busy with a lot of seismic work. Many reckon Islands wont be around for much longer and rumour has it Mal is not interested in Pacific that much anymore and it wont be long before the doors are shut. Remember these are heresay so take it for what its worth.
AB
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John Twitt RIP
Just heard that John Twitt from Pacific Helicopters had a fatal accident out of Lae in Papua New Guinea last Friday. Apparently his Lama crashed near Bumbu and sunk in 10m of water whilst doing a job for the US Army's Central Identification Laboratory. The three Army passengers survived the accident. I personally only met John a few times whilst in PNG but he seemed a very decent sort of guy.
PNG Heli crash
I read elsewhere that a machine of PACIFICS crashed out of Lae last week.
Does anyone know who the pilot was and any further details?
Thanks.... I have mates out there.
Does anyone know who the pilot was and any further details?
Thanks.... I have mates out there.
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From ArmyLINK:
HICKAM AFB, Hawaii (Army News Service, May 9, 2003) - A helicopter contracted by the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory carrying five personnel crashed into the ocean off the coastline of Lae, Papua New Guinea, May 8.
A 13-member CILHI team was in Papua New Guinea to excavate the crash site of a World War II B-24 bomber. Aboard the helicopter that crashed were three personnel from the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, a representative from the Papua New Guinea National Museum and a Pacific Helicopter pilot.
The pilot was killed, one of the CILHI personnel was injured and is in stable condition at Angau Memorial Hospital, Lae, and the others are in good condition.
The helicopter had just taken off and was a few minutes into flight when it crashed. The aircraft was en route to the site of the 1943 plane crash, which the team was surveying before moving in its recovery personnel and equipment.
The weather was not believed to be a contributing factor in the crash, officials said.
The CILHI team in Papua New Guinea consists of a team leader, team sergeant, two medics, two forensic anthropologists, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, a photographer, a communication technician, a mechanic and several mortuary affairs specialists.
Nine service members were believed to have been on board the II B-24D aircraft that went down in 1943. CILHI located the crash site in the mountains near Yalumet Village in the Morobe Province during an investigation in April 2002.
A representative from the Morobe Provincial Government Protocol Office turned over personal affects believed to be associated with the crash site in March of 2002. The representative later escorted a CILHI investigative team to the crash site that is located at an elevation of about 10,800 feet.
The B-24 bomber and its crew are believed to have belonged to the 43rd Bomb Group, 63rd Bomb Squadron. The aircraft left Dobodura, New Guinea on an armed reconnaissance mission flying over Kavieng, New Ireland and was returning to Dobodura when it went missing. A pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, and five gunners were aboard when the aircraft crashed.
Following its helicopter crash, CILHI team has suspended operations and will be returning to Hawaii.
Over the years the lab has identified approximately 110 American WWII service members recovered in Papua New Guinea.
RIP.
HICKAM AFB, Hawaii (Army News Service, May 9, 2003) - A helicopter contracted by the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory carrying five personnel crashed into the ocean off the coastline of Lae, Papua New Guinea, May 8.
A 13-member CILHI team was in Papua New Guinea to excavate the crash site of a World War II B-24 bomber. Aboard the helicopter that crashed were three personnel from the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, a representative from the Papua New Guinea National Museum and a Pacific Helicopter pilot.
The pilot was killed, one of the CILHI personnel was injured and is in stable condition at Angau Memorial Hospital, Lae, and the others are in good condition.
The helicopter had just taken off and was a few minutes into flight when it crashed. The aircraft was en route to the site of the 1943 plane crash, which the team was surveying before moving in its recovery personnel and equipment.
The weather was not believed to be a contributing factor in the crash, officials said.
The CILHI team in Papua New Guinea consists of a team leader, team sergeant, two medics, two forensic anthropologists, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, a photographer, a communication technician, a mechanic and several mortuary affairs specialists.
Nine service members were believed to have been on board the II B-24D aircraft that went down in 1943. CILHI located the crash site in the mountains near Yalumet Village in the Morobe Province during an investigation in April 2002.
A representative from the Morobe Provincial Government Protocol Office turned over personal affects believed to be associated with the crash site in March of 2002. The representative later escorted a CILHI investigative team to the crash site that is located at an elevation of about 10,800 feet.
The B-24 bomber and its crew are believed to have belonged to the 43rd Bomb Group, 63rd Bomb Squadron. The aircraft left Dobodura, New Guinea on an armed reconnaissance mission flying over Kavieng, New Ireland and was returning to Dobodura when it went missing. A pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, and five gunners were aboard when the aircraft crashed.
Following its helicopter crash, CILHI team has suspended operations and will be returning to Hawaii.
Over the years the lab has identified approximately 110 American WWII service members recovered in Papua New Guinea.
RIP.
Pilot ‘medical finding’
INVESTIGATORS in the helicopter crash at sea near Lae city last Friday suspect that the pilot may have been “medically incapacitated” while airborne.
Senior Aircraft Accident Investigator with the Bureau of Air Safety Investigations Alan Yarnold, who was in Lae at the weekend to carry out preliminary investigations on the crash, said there is strong suspicion the pilot may have suffered a medical condition soon after take off, which stopped him from controlling the aircraft.
The pilot, John Twitt, formerly of Melbourne, Australia, who had worked with the Pacific Helicopters for four years, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Angau Memorial Hospital, after CPR at the crash site failed.
His four passengers, including three US army officers and an officer from the PNG National Museum, survived.
Mr Yarnold said the term “medically incapacitated” was to mean any medical condition that would have stopped the pilot from controlling the aircraft, such as a stroke.
He said from Madang, where he is heading investigations into the two Islands Airways plane crashes recently, there had been nothing wrong with the helicopter and apparently no engine problems.
He said the US army officers on board the helicopter were very experienced men with many hours travel in helicopters and would have known if there was an engine problem. The pilot had not sounded any warning of the helicopter developing problems.
source:http://www.postcourier.com.pg/
INVESTIGATORS in the helicopter crash at sea near Lae city last Friday suspect that the pilot may have been “medically incapacitated” while airborne.
Senior Aircraft Accident Investigator with the Bureau of Air Safety Investigations Alan Yarnold, who was in Lae at the weekend to carry out preliminary investigations on the crash, said there is strong suspicion the pilot may have suffered a medical condition soon after take off, which stopped him from controlling the aircraft.
The pilot, John Twitt, formerly of Melbourne, Australia, who had worked with the Pacific Helicopters for four years, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Angau Memorial Hospital, after CPR at the crash site failed.
His four passengers, including three US army officers and an officer from the PNG National Museum, survived.
Mr Yarnold said the term “medically incapacitated” was to mean any medical condition that would have stopped the pilot from controlling the aircraft, such as a stroke.
He said from Madang, where he is heading investigations into the two Islands Airways plane crashes recently, there had been nothing wrong with the helicopter and apparently no engine problems.
He said the US army officers on board the helicopter were very experienced men with many hours travel in helicopters and would have known if there was an engine problem. The pilot had not sounded any warning of the helicopter developing problems.
source:http://www.postcourier.com.pg/