Covid-19 affecting pilot standards: Airline

PNG Air says the coronavirus pandemic has created international barriers for airlines throughout the world and affecting pilot standards.
Access to flight simulators overseas are presently out of bounds for all Papua New Guinean operators who are required to undertake proficiency checks every six months.
PNG Air, in a statement yesterday, said it had developed the first approved process for large aircraft competency assessment to be completed without simulator support.
Delivering to CASA PNG, PNG Air’s Capt Shaun Minto and Ralph Teo developed the acceptable plan to ensure PNG Air ATR 72 and Dash 8 pilots would be able to maintain the highest standards available for regulatory purposes and customer safety.
Usually spread over two days overseas in simulators, pilots are briefed and drilled in many emergency scenarios, including engine failure during take-off, fire drills, systems failures and emergency management procedures for successful flight returns. Manager flight operations Capt Emmanuel Kadiko said: “This is a positive step forward as the first of its kind to ensure that airline services can be continued.”