Another light plane down in PNG

[Deleted member 29185]

Just read this morning that PNG has suffered another light plane crash which has killed 4 including an Australian pilot. I am always saddened by news like this and I hope no AFFers were involved but thankfully, there were 5 survivors. I was on board a Hevilift Twin Otter on Friday in PNG so it does strike rather close to home but I should also say I have the utmost confidence in the planes, the airline and the pilots. Safe travels everyone!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Today is a big news day for PNG aviation.

First up, related to the incident above is this story, in which it's announced that the Aircraft Investigation Commission now has mobile data recovery capability for coughpit voice and data recorders..........now all they need are the voice and data recorders to be fitted ....but hey, Rome wasn't built in a day!

Then we have this one.......at one of my airports! It did make me wonder how many Aussies realise that our closest neighbour still regularly declines into quite deadly tribal warfare.

 

[NZflygirl]

There's actually a really cool several part documentary on you tube about pilots in PNG. Amazing conditions they fly in and some airports on thin short dirt strips on sides of hills, people that have never flown freaking out....tough job. It includes a couple of reminders to pilots as to how dangerous it can be as there have been other aircraft downed. From the business side of it it seemed business was booming for the owners!

I hate small planes.....but I hate missing out on seeing destinations even more so I still go.

 

[BAM1748]

Nothing like taking off over 2 or 3 aircraft carcasses left at the end of the runway. I have some old slides I'll scan and post, when I get to it.


Matt

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Amazing conditions they fly in and some airports on thin short dirt strips on sides of hills,

I posted a pic of the hairiest landing strip I've seen here in PNG a while back, but I can't remember the thread. I'll see if I can find it. If the series you mention is the one I think, that's West Papua rather then PNG but similar conditions.

EDIT: Found it.........http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-airport-information-68843-4.html#post1270006

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Doesn't look like this has been mentioned, but an Aussie pilot and 11 others, including 3 children, were tragically killed in a Sunbird aviation plane crash a couple of weeks ago at Kiunga.

 

[Denali]

Scariest moment Ive ever had flying was on a small plane in PNG. Very sad news of another crash.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Scariest moment Ive ever had flying was on a small plane in PNG. Very sad news of another crash.

It seems to have something to do with the quickly changing weather and bloody high mountains. On a clear day we tend to fly through the mountain passes (sometimes below the level of the Highlands Highway) but when the weather sets in, we climb rapidly. Just last month that happened to me with a climb to 14500ft. Given the choice between a bit of heavy breathing in the back seat of an unpressurised Twotter or running into a mountainside......I pick the heavy breathing!