Observation flights

Following my base ops orientation, and while waiting for CASA Australia and CASA PNG to process my licence paperwork, I tagged along with various training pilots for some observational flights. This was an opportunity for me to learn the various procedures (both in-flight and on the ground) and to start to learn some of the main geographical features on our main routes. We visited a number of airstrips of varying degrees of difficulty and I was introduced to the MAF agent at each one.

Mt Wilhelm, highest mountain in Papua New Guinea (14,790 ft)

Taking off at Tsendiap airstrip

A crowd gathering to buy Bibles

The Laigap valley

Mt Giluwe, second highest mountain in Papua New Guinea

A crowd gathers as trade store goods are unloaded at Tekin

Tekin airstrip

Strickland river gorge

One of our flights was to drop off a MAF family who were going for their week-long bush orientation at Sengapi. We arrived to a crowd that was much larger than usual, and a bilas (decoration) gate at the airstrip. There was chanting and drums and we saw groups of men and women in traditional dress dancing. I assumed it was all to welcome the family, but when I talked to the MAF agent he informed me that the community was practising their traditional dances for the governor, who was planning to visit that afternoon! Even so, it was still quite special to witness.

The men

The women