PNG : Flying in Papua New Guinea
 

I just found this little snippet in the Courier Mail in Brisbane.
Does not look like a good company to work for does it? :sad:

Grieving widoow told to pay up for crashed
helicopter

15jun99

THE widow of a pilot killed in a Papua New Guinea air
crash was told she should pay for the wrecked helicopter.

Kristina Tannreuther said Pacific Helicopters managing
director Mal Smith told her that the helicopter was
under-insured "and I should pay him back because
Michael crashed it".

She said Mr Smith – who is standing as an Independent
candidate in a PNG byelection under the slogan "You
Shall Be Looked After" – had not even said he was sorry
for what happened or that her husband was a good pilot.

Ms Tannreuther has been paid just $14,000 insurance
under PNG workers compensation for the death of her
husband, Michael Geuder.

Captain Geuder, 45, of Dreamtime Beach, Kingscliff, died
on May 6 when his helicopter crashed on Mt Wilhelm in
the PNG Highlands. The only passenger, Rick Warnett, of
Cairns, survived.

German-born Captain Geuder, who had more than 6000
hours experience, moved to the Gold Coast to work for
Pacific Helicopters on a month-on, month-off basis.

Legal action is proceeding from another Gold Coast family
after the death of another Pacific pilot in a 1998 crash in
Indonesia.

Pacific employs 30 pilots and 12 engineers, most from
Queensland.

Ms Tannreuther said Mr Geuder was told by company
officials he had a death cover of $US100,000, a figure
confirmed by other pilots and company officials, including
former general manager Mike Conomos.

Mr Smith, speaking from Goroka, said yesterday: "Why
are you helping these people – she (Kristina) is a German
living in America. What next, are you going to do it for an
Israeli?"

In a previous written response, Mr Smith said the
company did have a personal accident policy of up to
$US100,000.

But he said it was not an individual death policy but an
accident policy which covered company expenses when a
mishap occurred such as an urgent medivac, medical
attention or flying a body home.

He said it was "suggested" to Capt Geuder that his salary
include a "death policy should he so wish and to organise
it in his own country of residence".

Ms Tannreuther denied this and in January last year,
Pacific Helicopters issued a memo to all staff advising
that the company provided "personal accident coverage
for the protection of you and your family" .

Pacific pilots and staff have sent a letter of protest to
the company saying they are "disgusted and alarmed at
the lack of sympathy displayed by senior management".

The letter said the matter had had "a devastating effect
on loyalty and morale throughout the company".

Mr Smith refused to provide a safety record of his
business to The Courier-Mail, saying every minor incident
over 25 years had been recorded and it would take too
long.

"I appreciate your sincerity towards German citizens
residing in America and working in Papua New Guinea and
hope this is of interest to Australian readers," he wrote.

Unbelievable!

Their reputation has never been great, and after this I guess they deserve this type of advertising to warn as many fellow aviators as possible. Pacific, you have to change.

I hope you didn't mind me relaying your message. I know several pilots working for Pacific Helicopters in PNG.

Thank you for the information.

Best Regards
Bill

That take's the cake, screwing a widow out of the insurance, then have the gall to send a bill for the helicopter. Sounds like a real Chicom operation. I have worked for some real winners but this one takes it.

Hevilift -- Papua New Guinea
 

Does any one have any info re their requirements please.

Drop me an email I know their OZ Chief pilot and may be able to help. I have also operated in PNG and can give you some info on the country if required.

Thanks, managed to speak to them today,appreciate your reply

Papua New Guinea
 

Hi all,
I have been hearing some conflicting reports about what’s happening up in Papa New Guinea. I also herd that Pacific Helicopters has lost a few top slingers to Bolivian contracts. Any one know what’s really happening?

Cheers

[ 23 August 2001: Message edited by: MCA ]

Not quite Bolivia. Bouganville or North Solomon's - whichever you prefer. UN work.

Pacific Helicopters had 2 pilots pinched by Hevi Llift for a quasi military contract on Bougainville Island. Heli Niugini had 2 of their long line pilots go to a seismic contract somewhere in South America. By the way,
it's Papua New Guinea!

Safe flying.

For MCA, The B212 pilot on Bougainville from Pacific will not be operating Russian gear on the Island, just the 212. The contract on Bougainville is with the Royal Australian Army, not the UN.

Fly Safe

HeviLift (Hagan, PNG)
 

Does anyone know how to get in touch with these guys?? Any info much appreciated!!

Sure do,
Have a couple of mates working for them. If its about work you are probably going to find it hard. PNG is in a self-induced recession and most of these guys are happy just to have a job. E-mail me for more.

Jayfer. Drop me an E-Mail and I will see if I can help you there!!

JT

If that is Jayfer The Great of SE Queensland, then g'day. I'm sitting in your old ops seat at the mo and IT SUX. If you hear anything interesting from hevilift, let me know pls pls pls!

And Gimposh... there is only one with that name. Big Boy, Little Jim, and the Towel Head are all well and say g'day...( and now you know who I am.) ;)

[ 17 September 2001: Message edited by: w_ocker ]

Is that the original Jayfer, of Joke Flight fame?

From a fellow JF member

What fleet does HeviLift PNG have?
 

Just an enquiry as to what fleet composition Hevi Lift PNG has.

Gidday,

They use 206, 206L, 205, 212, Mil 8 & 17, Kamov32 and the odd Mil 26.

They have some fixed wing as well.

:cool:

According to a 2000-01 Shepard's Civil Helicopter Handbook I have in front of me:

Bell 206L x 9
Bell 212 x 6
Kamov Ka-32 x 5
Mil Mi-17 x 3

Don't know how current that information is.....

:D :cool:

Thanks guys