Happy New Year, 2014

Just returned from a five night break in Port Douglas, QLD, Australia.
It's about an hour's drive north up the coast from Cairns.

Been a wonderful break with Lucy and the children.
Our first major break since moving to Australia in Feb 2012.
Well overdue.

Back to the PNG FIFO job on 2 Feb.
Should be interesting, sure there will be changes while I'd been away.

Still enjoy flying around PNG and doing the odd international flight down to Cairns.

Since last blog, the company has got three ATR42s, two 320s and one 500.
Also have the use of a privately owned 320. Making four ATRs.
This has been over a two and half year period. Not bad for a private company.

ATR42-320 (P2-KSJ)

ATR42-500 (P2-KSV)

Flying in PNG is always challenging and most rewarding. Especially as I'm heavily involved in the training of new pilots to the ATR.
Training seems to be ongoing as several pilots who joined in 2011 have moved onto greener pastures.
That's life.

Remember, keep the wing the right way up. LOL

Regards

Greetings from Cairns

Hi All,
Now into the 2nd full weekend off and it's time to take stock.
Being involved in getting this ATR into the air has been a big task with not enough hours in the days.

The aircraft had its first engine run, yesterday. A bit of a milestone that has been ticked off.

Still have the PNG CASA auditors here checking through the aircraft history and confirming that all ADs have been completed. This aircraft will be the most checked aircraft going onto the PNG registrar.

This is the first ATR going onto the PNG registrar. There are other ATRs in PNG but are on foreign registrars. 

Planning to have the aircraft in PNG on the 3rd. No sure that will happen. Just to much to be achieved by that date.
Some company pilots are in BKK completing their 180 day base check-rides. should be back in CNS by Tuesday.
Next week will be the telling week as we give the manuals approved by PNG CASA.

That's the aircraft with the new livery.

Time to do some work on the manuals, so bye for now.

Gerard

Hi All,

Off to Cairns on Sunday.
Looking forward to getting airborne in the pocket rocket, the ATR42.
Completed my last flight with MCA on 29th Oct. Been with them for just over 25yrs.
Looking fwd to the new flying opportunity in PNG.
This pic show one of the two aircraft that I'll be flying. Looks a bit strange with only a four bladed prop. Six blades always looks better.

Fly safe

Gerard