Dave Fyock, MAF International’s new CEO, visited PNG over last weekend and into the start of this week. Although he’s been to the Indonesian western half of the island multiple times, this was his first visit to the eastern half. Everybody enjoyed his visit and his warmth and approachability.
Our partner organisation, Christian Missionary Radio Fellowship, CRMF, based in Goroka has had a series of break-ins over the last few months. There are concerns that they are being deliberately targeted, possibly by somebody wanting their property, though this is not confirmed. Nonetheless, the ongoing intrusions are leaving them all very worn out and Dave thought it would be better to visit them, rather than go on a scheduled operational flight.
Getting to Goroka was the next challenge, and I flew him and Todd Aebischer (Country Director) there in our Cessna 172. The C172 belongs to the Aviation Training Centre, but as the ATC isn’t functioning at the moment, it is proving a very useful taxi for flights like this, and also for moving pilots between bases. However, its normally-aspirated engine is not the greatest performer at highlands altitudes.
During the last couple of weeks, and only calming down yesterday, PNG has been swept by unusually strong winds, often at ridge tops around 40kts/50mph. Put those close to mountains and you end up with interesting swirls, eddies and downdrafts. Shortly before I was due to fly Dave and Todd back to Hagen, the Twin Otter arrived back and the pilots reported that the winds and turbulence were so strong that they couldn’t continue. Then one of the base staff spoke to his sister who lives a short distance to the south of Goroka and she reported that the wind was so strong that it was threatening to tear roofs off houses, that there was strong rain and that they were covered by cloud. A report from Hagen said that the winds were wild there too.
Decision made! We stayed in Goroka overnight, even though it messed up Dave’s schedule. Dave and Todd are both pilots and there’s never an issue with a weather decision like that – we all know it’s better to be on the ground wishing you could be in the air, rather than the other way around.
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While CRMF have had problems with break-ins, this week MAF Goroka staff have had problems with sickness. A pleasant consequence of handing over my FOM duties to Brad is that I am now more available to fly, hence also why I was able to fly Dave and Todd to Goroka. On Tuesday I covered for one of the Goroka pilots by flying the Otter to Hagen, leaving the C172 in Goroka for one of them to use as a shuttle later in the week, and then flying a programme from Hagen.
The last flight on Tuesday was one of the Otter’s sword swallowing exercises. Occasionally we are asked to carry portable sawmills, used for milling timber. The main frame and engine weighs getting on for 100kg, so is very heavy to lift in and out of the aircraft, but the main beam along which the saw runs is 6 metres long. Being long and thin we can fit it in, with the front end over the flight compartment floor, and the rear end up against the rear cabin wall. I took some video as it was unloaded at Simbai and the beam just keeps on coming!
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CASA PNG is insisting on carrying out more initial instrument flight tests and type rating checks, rather than delegating them to Authorised Flight Examiners like myself. There is a positive side to this in that it means that the regulator is more involved in maintaining industry standards; the negative side is that it can be difficult to book a Flying Operations Inspector as CASA is not highly staffed.
Anyway, an FOI came to Hagen over Wednesday and Thursday to check Brad Venter doing my periodic instrument rating proficiency check, so that Brad can have checking approval in the future. On Thursday the FOI did a type rating check for Glenys Watson, whom I’ve been training as an FO on the Twin Otter, and for another pilot who has been trained on the Caravan.
My periodic check proved interesting! I mentioned the winds earlier, and conducting an instrument landing system approach into Komo, an aerodrome 30 minutes flight time west of Mount Hagen was very hard work. Crosswinds of about 35 knots and associated turbulence made the flight uncomfortable and technically challenging! I did OK, keeping within the necessary tolerances, but I wouldn’t normally have inflicted a flight like that on anybody else.
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I was caught completely off-guard on Tuesday. Once back in Hagen I left Dave and Todd to get on with their day while I went flying. After my first round I had a message that I was needed at HQ where I knew there was an awards presentation, but as the years of our length of service doesn’t end in a 5 or 0 I knew we weren’t due for anything.
However, when I arrived I was presented with a very nice acrylic block acknowledging the years I’ve been on the Leadership Team as Crew Training Manager and Flight Operations Manager. It is very much appreciated and something which I will always value.
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There we are, another week over, and after yesterday you can add some weeded flower beds and the sides of the next crate completed to the list of tasks accomplished. This morning we intended to go to church, but as we entered the building the volume from the worship band was cranked up so loud that we turned round and went home!
Noise is an issue; last night we moved over to an empty house on the other side of the compound because the club was noisy and our next door neighbours were having a bit of a party. By the morning everywhere was quiet, but some nights this week the club has remained noisy right through to daybreak. The stamina of the drinkers and revellers is remarkable and much greater than Nicki’s and my stamina to endure the thumping bass.
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A warning to daughters-in-law who don’t like spiders: Beware my Facebook post this week! I intend to put up a photo of a beast that has taken up residence under our house that, without its legs extended, is 6 inches across. Its web is about 30 inches in diameter.
