Stay away from the worst company in PNG and most likely the world.
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Yeah, welcome to the world of Ad Hoc helicopter operations. I was late to my own stag do, as a job came in and i had to fly in the morning, turns out the guys i dropped off in the morning wanted to be picked up that afternoon, so the drinking and partying had been going for about 2 hours before i even got to the venue!!
That was in NZ as well...
That was in NZ as well...
Join Date: Nov 2017
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Think what they are talking about is the fact they are doing 5 months straight with no duty time off. Thats is standby for 150 days straight. Touring is another subject not what they are saying here.
Yeah, I heard they hired young guy from Sweden who was prepared to work slave hours and non-commuting 5 month hitch in return for a twin endorsement and some twin time.
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The work requirement and days off etc etc would all be spelled out in the employment agreement, no? Or doesn't this company have employment agreements? There would have to be an employment agreement as part of the work permit application process, unless the pilots are working under the radar on a tourist visa?
And there would be a fatigue management system as part of the ops spec, no?
Unless you're on equal time tours you can't work 7 days straight, or whatever the rule is. If I didn't fly on a particular day for whatever reason I'd write that down as a day off. In all my years in PNG I don't ever remember an instance of a helicopter not flying when there was a job to do because the pilot was on a day off. Even on bases where there was only one pilot and one helicopter.
And there would be a fatigue management system as part of the ops spec, no?
Unless you're on equal time tours you can't work 7 days straight, or whatever the rule is. If I didn't fly on a particular day for whatever reason I'd write that down as a day off. In all my years in PNG I don't ever remember an instance of a helicopter not flying when there was a job to do because the pilot was on a day off. Even on bases where there was only one pilot and one helicopter.
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Yeah, welcome to the world of Ad Hoc helicopter operations. I was late to my own stag do, as a job came in and i had to fly in the morning, turns out the guys i dropped off in the morning wanted to be picked up that afternoon, so the drinking and partying had been going for about 2 hours before i even got to the venue!!
That was in NZ as well...
That was in NZ as well...
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The work requirement and days off etc etc would all be spelled out in the employment agreement, no? Or doesn't this company have employment agreements? There would have to be an employment agreement as part of the work permit application process, unless the pilots are working under the radar on a tourist visa?
And there would be a fatigue management system as part of the ops spec, no?
Unless you're on equal time tours you can't work 7 days straight, or whatever the rule is. If I didn't fly on a particular day for whatever reason I'd write that down as a day off. In all my years in PNG I don't ever remember an instance of a helicopter not flying when there was a job to do because the pilot was on a day off. Even on bases where there was only one pilot and one helicopter.
And there would be a fatigue management system as part of the ops spec, no?
Unless you're on equal time tours you can't work 7 days straight, or whatever the rule is. If I didn't fly on a particular day for whatever reason I'd write that down as a day off. In all my years in PNG I don't ever remember an instance of a helicopter not flying when there was a job to do because the pilot was on a day off. Even on bases where there was only one pilot and one helicopter.
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Everyone of their pilots over the last 3 years have been on a non-commuting 5 month hitch and all that jazz regardless of origin
Join Date: Nov 2017
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Just dont get caught working there without a valid work permit as immigration will have your ass and you like some other pilots will have the banned stamp in your passport which other countries dont take too lightly. Especially Australia.
In experienced pilots will get caught out in this environment look at the minimums for other operators, there is a reason for it apart from insurance.
This thread one day will read Told you so.
In experienced pilots will get caught out in this environment look at the minimums for other operators, there is a reason for it apart from insurance.
This thread one day will read Told you so.
I worked for a major helicopter operator in PNG on a tourist visa for over a year: immigration at border check-point knows what's going. They see a guy coming in and going out every month for over a year. One day they said no, calls were made, I was let in and had my work permit by the end of the week.
I don't know how guys can be doing a 5 month hitch on a tourist visa without at least going out on a visa run.
And about inexperienced guys getting caught out in the PNG environment. Plenty of experienced guys get caught out as well...and plenty of PNG experienced guys get caught out. 6 pilot colleagues of mine - all highly experienced - have met their demise in a helicopter prang in PNG during my time there.
3000 hours helicopter experience used to be the minimum even to get looked at for a first time PNG pilot applicant. I know that number has been reducing, as low as 1200 hours for some now.
I don't know how guys can be doing a 5 month hitch on a tourist visa without at least going out on a visa run.
And about inexperienced guys getting caught out in the PNG environment. Plenty of experienced guys get caught out as well...and plenty of PNG experienced guys get caught out. 6 pilot colleagues of mine - all highly experienced - have met their demise in a helicopter prang in PNG during my time there.
3000 hours helicopter experience used to be the minimum even to get looked at for a first time PNG pilot applicant. I know that number has been reducing, as low as 1200 hours for some now.
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Just to be clear, that story is attributable to a well known former Governor of Eastern Highlands Provence who owns a helicopter company based in Goroka. They've had several fatal and other prangs over many years operating in PNG. This company is different to the company to which this topic is about.
I mistook the initials you gave without checking the other info. It truly sounded like the one I knew.
Still, Peter HAD been working in Lae for the company I thought, when I was there, and at the time, using an AS350. I assumed,in time, he had moved to a BO105 as a result of a change in the fleet aircraft.
PNG hurts when you least expect it.
Who is accepting 1200 hr pilots?
If you would like to work up there, have the common sense not to apply unless you have the relevant experience... it is no place for the inexperienced.
If do meet the requirements, do not accept less than equal tours, or the basic going rate. You are shafting everyone if you accept less, and your reputation in the industry will be damaged if you do.
If you would like to work up there, have the common sense not to apply unless you have the relevant experience... it is no place for the inexperienced.
If do meet the requirements, do not accept less than equal tours, or the basic going rate. You are shafting everyone if you accept less, and your reputation in the industry will be damaged if you do.
He was the Lae base pilot flying AS350 for the Goroka based operator. After he left that job he was flying a BO105 for a different operator, i.e. the operator to which this topic is about.
Who is accepting 1200 hr pilots?
If you would like to work up there, have the common sense not to apply unless you have the relevant experience... it is no place for the inexperienced.
If do meet the requirements, do not accept less than equal tours, or the basic going rate. You are shafting everyone if you accept less, and your reputation in the industry will be damaged if you do.
If you would like to work up there, have the common sense not to apply unless you have the relevant experience... it is no place for the inexperienced.
If do meet the requirements, do not accept less than equal tours, or the basic going rate. You are shafting everyone if you accept less, and your reputation in the industry will be damaged if you do.
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Who is accepting 1200 hr pilots?
If you would like to work up there, have the common sense not to apply unless you have the relevant experience... it is no place for the inexperienced.
If do meet the requirements, do not accept less than equal tours, or the basic going rate. You are shafting everyone if you accept less, and your reputation in the industry will be damaged if you do.
If you would like to work up there, have the common sense not to apply unless you have the relevant experience... it is no place for the inexperienced.
If do meet the requirements, do not accept less than equal tours, or the basic going rate. You are shafting everyone if you accept less, and your reputation in the industry will be damaged if you do.
I am in PNG full time and it’s great. Shove the balus’s & contant airport terminals & hotels with month on/off gig.
It’s bs re. the minimums required. Everyone is different and I know pilots who have started up here with 400-500 hours total & they still chugging along and very competent utility pilots. No reason a pilot can’t be employed here with 1k total hours. It’s all about gradually indoctrinating them into best practice operations png. Don’t sign them off on external load ops or above 8k’ straight away.
Close supervision. Plenty of orientation flights and get them using zero/zero techniques all the time & in confined areas because as long as my butt points to the ground, sooner or later they are going to do a power check before landing at a remote location & due to the conditions there isn’t enough power to come to an IGEH so it’s either go find somewhere to spot load them in or be sure your zero/zero skills are on point.
