Local pilot clocks 10,000 hours flying

National, Normal
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By BOSORINA ROBBY

HELICOPTER pilot Sam Onno last Friday clocked 10,000 hours of flight time, making him one of Papua New Guinea’s most experienced pilots.
Mr Onno had flown in from Kerema with his crew who were doing maintenance work and did not initially realise that he had clocked that many hours.
With eight hours flying time a day, Mr Onno’s achievement took 20 years.
Mr Onno started flying helicopters when he was with the PNG Defence Force after being in the Armed Forces in the tour of duty at the Indonesian/PNG border.
“In that tour, I walked for miles, slept in swamps and vowed never to do that again. So, I took up flying lessons,” he said.
In his flying career, he had served the PNGDF in various tours in the country and abroad.
He later served the Royal Police Constabulary Force air wing and then as a civilian pilot in the Highlands.
Now, he is one of Helifix’s top pilots and is very proud to have served the country.
Helifix CEO Robert Agarobe said safety was the company’s number one priority and Mr Onno had never had an accident, making him a pilot always on high demand.
Mr Onno celebrated his achievement with his family, friends and Mr Agarobe last Saturday at the Helifix office at 7-Mile.