E-exam centre set up for local aviation candidates

 PAPUA New Guinea has set up an e-exam centre (information technology) infrastructure. 

Minister for Civil Aviation Davis Steven said with the expertise of ASL company manager Bob Brownlie, PNG now had the infrastructure apart from CAA NZ, CASA Australia, CAA Macau, CAA Singapore, UK and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

The partnership between CASA PNG and the e-exam centre saw 12 computers given for candidates to use to accomplish aviation assessments.

Steven told The National that the International Civil Aviation Organisation, a part of the United Nation, conducted an audit in 2009 and found that Civil Aviation PNG was about to fail as a competent aviation sector.

It listed PNG on the ICAO website asa “security concern”.

“It was a serious situation with big implications for commerce, trade, and even PNG-owned airlines registered in the country to access international airspace and land elsewhere,” he said.

“The objective was to lift standards, investments from the Government to support CASA strategies, and this e-exam was part of the outcome.

“I am also happy because in achieving this, we will also bring in efficiency in the industry itself.”

Air Niugini executive manager flight operations Captain Samiu Taufa, said candidates would no longer have to be sent to Australia and New Zealand for examinations.