Four PNG soldiers graduate as pilots

FOUR soldiers from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force graduated from the Tamworth Flying School in Australia, as trainee pilots on Oct 19.
They graduated after successfully completing their “ab initio flying course” with BAE Systems, the military said in a statement. 
The pilots are Capt Douglas Vavar, Sub-Lt Rendell Hepota, Sub-Lt Benjamin Waibadi and 2nd Lt Jeffery Hayaku.
Defence force commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi, who attended the graduation with Air Transport Wing commander, Lt-Col Kisokau Powaseu, was a proud man. 
“This is a milestone for the PNGDF and the way for the future,” Agwi said.
“Until 1995, pilot training for the PNGDF was conducted by the Australian Defence Force under the Defence Cooperation Programme.”
Agwi said it had taken the military almost 20 years to develop a PNG-organised and funded replacement aviation and pilot training arrangement.
“I am proud to have been able to reintroduce pilot training for the PNGDF,” he said.
“But above all, I am immensely proud of the four graduates.
“This country’s security in the future will be dependent on a range of factors.
“And military aviation will be one of them,” he said.
Agwi said an army without air support and without land and maritime aerial surveillance in the future would not be capable of responding to the priority and sometimes urgent needs of a nation.
“Next the PNGDF will move to reinstate non-pilot aircrew training and training for aircraft maintenance mechanics and technicians – as soon as suitable training institutions can be identified,” he said.
PNGDF Air Operations director, Lt-Col Mark Sipou said the basic pilot’s course was for candidates who were commissioned officers and employed with both the maritime and land elements of the military.  
“These officers, after completing their training, will assume management positions in the Air Transport Wing.”
Sipou said the pilot training was reintroduced after the army had lost most of its pilot.
It had been 18 years since the last training had been done.
“These four officers on this pilot training signify the revitalisation of PNGDF air capability,” Sipou said.
He said this was the start of the programme and more candidates would be recruited.
The four officers started their training in Nov 11, last year and completed it on Oct 19.
Sipou said of the four graduates two were undergoing extensive aircraft maintenance training, while the other two would start full helicopter training next year.
The four trainee pilots will return to BAE Systems in Tamworth to take up the Advanced Flying Training phase of their pilot training.

Ends