Back at HGU

Arrived back into Mount Hagen (HGU) yesterday after 26hrs of non-stop travel from Bangkok (BKK), Thailand.
Was really feeling somewhat stuffed or as they commonly call it, 'jet lagged.'

Taking today easy with a rest day assigned. Got another rest day tomorrow.
Back line flying on Wednesday, with an overnight in Cairns (CNS).

The simulator sessions for my ATR42 recurrent training and OCA went well.
Also did a new company pilot's ATR42 type rating endorsement, while in BKK.

Two pics from my trip to BKK.

Happy Flying

Breakfast in Bangkok

Currently, having breakfast in the Grand Fourwings Convention Hotel.
Got to the restaurant early, now waiting for my sim partner and instructor to join me for breakfast.

Already done two hours of  study for my ATR simulator check-ride tonight. In the simulator at 11:30pm.
Not the best to perform well in the simulator. Should really be sleeping then.

This hotel is very nice.

Friends have arrived for breakfast, time to be sociable.

On Tour Break

Now back in Cairns with family for a well earned break.
Pictured en-route between Mount Hagen and Cairns on Friday, 28th Feb.

Will be back to Mount Hagen on 30th Mar.

Happy Flying

This morning up at 4.45am and airborne at 6.45am.
Lovely sunrise to get airborne in the ATR42-500, from Mount Hagen, PNG.
The MG sports car of the ATR stable.

Great feeling crossing the upwind end of runway climbing at 2000fpm ROC.

Went straight up to cruise altitude of FL230 for the flight through to Rabual, PNG.

One hour and fifty three minutes later landed at Rabual. Uplifted some JetA1, more passengers for the return leg. Back in Hagen by 12:45pm.

Another day's work complete. Job well done.

What a day for flying

This morning got airborne Lihir Island, PNG to a glorious day. Lots of Cbs around, static crackle on the HF radio and 26 pax in the cabin. My kind of day. LOL.
3.9 flying hours and five sectors later, back into Mount Hagen.

Easy day tomorrow, with a trip to Rabaul and return to Hagen.
Might taken the camera, never know what I might see.

Eight more sleeps and then on tour break. Back to Cairns, Australia. Always look forward to home.

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