Airspace under control, says PNG Air Services of preparations for leaders’ meet

PNG Air Services Ltd (PNGASL) is confident it will meet the Government and Apec economies’ expectations for an efficient management of a safe airspace for November’s leaders’ meeting.
Managing director and chief executive Ted Pakii said the air space would be accommodating not only an increased traffic but an increase in the number of larger aircraft such as Boeing 747 jets.
In a statement yesterday, Pakii said: “PNGASL is well prepared to meet this challenge. Our comprehensive modernisation programme, which commenced well before PNG decided to host the 2018 Apec Leaders’ Summit, has enabled PNGASL to modernise every aspect of our business, including our systems and processes, infrastructure and facilities, capacity and capability.
“With advanced aircraft avionics and instrumentation, PNGASL’s modernisation programme includes the procurement and installation of a modern, Air Traffic Management (ATM) system to ensure seamless handling and management of aircraft operations during this critical period and beyond.
“The installation of the ATM system was completed last year and we have been using our new training facility to train our air traffic controllers. The first phase of the transition to the new system was completed in May and the second phase is currently in progress and should be completed by mid-September.”
As part of its security preparations, PNGASL has been working closely with the Aviation Sector Security Working Group which includes the Apec Coordination Authority, National Airport Corporation, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Department of Transport, Air Niugini and other stakeholders, on matters relating to aviation security requirements, with appropriate focus on airspace management and related issues.
PNGASL has also been working with NAC on the implementation of the aircraft flow management system to facilitate arrivals and departures of aircraft according to airport capacity, which includes the slot management system currently been developed. This will help minimise traffic jams on the ground due to limited aircraft parking space at Jackson International Airport and also assist in efficient airspace management.
“Our ultimate objective is to ensure that we are well prepared to facilitate smooth and safe flow of aircraft traffic within PNG’s … airspace.”