In-house job to save Air Niugini K2.5mil

AIR Niugini will save about K2.5 million by carrying out heavy maintenance checks on its jet aircraft in the country, another huge milestone for the airline.
Previously, jet aircraft had to be sent overseas for heavy maintenance checks, but this will now be done at the airline’s engineering hangar in Port Moresby, starting next Monday.
“This has been a progressive goal for the airline’s board to allow for heavy maintenance checks on its Fokker 100 and 70 aircraft onshore,” said Air Niugini acting chief executive Tahawar Durrani
“Whilst it is challenging to have such checks done onshore, we are pleased to be able to implement this process for the first time with our jet aircraft at our own hangar and by our own engineers.
“It is a landmark achievement that will save Air Niugini millions of kina now and in the years to come.”
Durrani said the in-house arrangement would also result in improved facilities and capacity-building in terms of local knowledge and up-skilling of maintenance staff.
“This being especially for young PNG aircraft maintenance engineers who are coming through the ranks after years of extensive training in New Zealand through Air Niugini’s cadet aircraft maintenance engineering programme,” he said.
Air Niugini’s general manager of aircraft maintenance organisation Benedict Oraka said his team of engineers were up to the task of doing onshore ‘C’ check or heavy
maintenance check on Fokker aircraft.
This was more intensive as compared to ‘A’ and ‘B’ checks, which are lighter and are done every two to six months.
Air Niugini also confirmed that a Boeing 737-800 aircraft operating flight PX10 from Port Moresby to Manila on Wednesday was undergoing a detailed inspection of the engine. The aircraft take-off roll was halted after a bang was heard from the right engine.
It taxied back to the international terminal building where passengers safely disembarked.