After enjoying a few weeks of flying regularly, the latter part of this week saw me doing penance back in the office. I lost one day of scheduled flying because two of our GA8 aircraft, very inconveniently, broke down. One was at its home base in Goroka, so convenient for the pilot, Dave. The second, in Madang, with Sebastian, also a Goroka-based pilot.
The only way to retrieve Sebastian and his passengers (another pilot with her family who were returning from a few days leave) was for Volkher and me to fly down in the Twin Otter and pick them up. Fortunately, we organised some loading so that we covered costs, but it was a time-consuming exercise. As Sebastian is also a DHC6 pilot it made sense for him to come to Hagen with us after delivering his passengers so he could fly instead of me the following day. Although the outdoors beckoned, I did need time in the office to catch up.
The good news is that one of the Airvans is flying again – two engineers went and sorted it out on Friday, and the other will be tomorrow as the part required arrived unexpectedly quickly.
Water in Hagen is in short supply at the moment. The situation isn’t helped by one of our water tanks springing some leaks, so we’re presently running it down completely so it can be either lined, or replaced, hopefully tomorrow.
The need to conserve water means that our car is in dire need of a wash as the dusty roads have given it a thick coating. Young hands have rubbed it along the sides, so it’s a good thing the car is old and we’re not too concerned about the paintwork, even though we do discourage the practice when we see it.
UK temperatures have been matching or exceeding PNG ones of late, and neither country has had much rain, or at least not in the Hagen area. Further south the south-east trade winds are still packing in the cloud and rain so airstrips in that part of the country are pretty wet.
Peter, Gilly and the boys set off on their long journey to stay with us today. Needless to say we are very much looking forward to having them with us for a while. Nicki will introduce them to some (or all!) of the other young MAF families at the various compounds, and give them the chance to explore some of the play equipment. I’m wondering if the boys will like to see inside my aeroplane later in the week.
Another crate is ready for final assemblage, and a further one, maybe the last, not far behind. Six months remaining; it is beginning to feel very strange, but we are also starting to plan our trip home via South Island of New Zealand.
The only way to retrieve Sebastian and his passengers (another pilot with her family who were returning from a few days leave) was for Volkher and me to fly down in the Twin Otter and pick them up. Fortunately, we organised some loading so that we covered costs, but it was a time-consuming exercise. As Sebastian is also a DHC6 pilot it made sense for him to come to Hagen with us after delivering his passengers so he could fly instead of me the following day. Although the outdoors beckoned, I did need time in the office to catch up.
The good news is that one of the Airvans is flying again – two engineers went and sorted it out on Friday, and the other will be tomorrow as the part required arrived unexpectedly quickly.
***********
Water in Hagen is in short supply at the moment. The situation isn’t helped by one of our water tanks springing some leaks, so we’re presently running it down completely so it can be either lined, or replaced, hopefully tomorrow.
The need to conserve water means that our car is in dire need of a wash as the dusty roads have given it a thick coating. Young hands have rubbed it along the sides, so it’s a good thing the car is old and we’re not too concerned about the paintwork, even though we do discourage the practice when we see it.
UK temperatures have been matching or exceeding PNG ones of late, and neither country has had much rain, or at least not in the Hagen area. Further south the south-east trade winds are still packing in the cloud and rain so airstrips in that part of the country are pretty wet.
***********
Peter, Gilly and the boys set off on their long journey to stay with us today. Needless to say we are very much looking forward to having them with us for a while. Nicki will introduce them to some (or all!) of the other young MAF families at the various compounds, and give them the chance to explore some of the play equipment. I’m wondering if the boys will like to see inside my aeroplane later in the week.
Another crate is ready for final assemblage, and a further one, maybe the last, not far behind. Six months remaining; it is beginning to feel very strange, but we are also starting to plan our trip home via South Island of New Zealand.
