By SHEILA LASIBORI
THE PNG Defence Force’s Casa that flew Sydney-trained lawyer Julian Moti to the Solomons Islands returned yesterday after undergoing a K4.1 million facelift in Indonesia.
On hand to welcome the crew were Defence Secretary Frederick Punangi, air operations director Lt-Col Ron Hosea, operations commander Capt Max Aleale, Police Commissioner Gari Baki, Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen and Indonesian Defence Attaché Col Pasenga Talilah.
“This is our pride,” Col Hosea said as soon as the P2-502 aircraft touched down at the PNGDF air transport wing at Seven Mile.
The aircraft was refurbished at the Merpati Nusantara Airlines’ maintenance facility in Surabaya.
The work took 48 days.
Sixteen PNGDF engineers also underwent training at the facility and four pilots were given recurrence training.
“The idea was to get our engineers to work on it (aircraft) so that they can work on the other aircraft,” Lt-Col Chester Berobero, who piloted the Casa, said.
He said the PNGDF may send another Casa to Surabaya to undergo maintenance.
Mr Punangi said it was the first time in 16 years that PNGDF was able to secure a major asset without the support of its Defence partners in particular, Australia.
 

Type In Your Name:

Type In Your E-mail:

Your Friend's E-mail:

Your Comments:

Receive copy: