Paging Air Niugini: Happy Birthday dear!

The National Weekender

MOALEMAI! Bubu Biga Lebasi, a one-time Air Niugini Advertising and Public Relations Department writer (1975-1980) today welcomes you on board this special Sepik storyboard flight into yesterday, recalling the establishment of our national flag carrier Air Niugini by the then Chief Minister of our self-governing nation-to-be in 1973, one Sana Michael Thomas Somare, a former radio announcer/journalist and school teacher, originally from his native Karao village at the mighty Sepik river delta. Says Bubu Biga: “We let our country Papua New Guinea’s remarkable and colourful historical aviation stories and photographs in archives, libraries and personal collections roll back in time and unfold for you readers the PX Story, thus  be seated, belt up, sit back and enjoy this first part of four-part special series by your favourite National Weekender magazine about your own favourite national and international flag carrier for Nov 1 (next Thursday) will be Air Niugini’s 45th birthday! So this series, with the main theme Air Niugini Brings The World A Little Closer, promises you readers and passengers alike, to be bigger and better.

Compiled and written by Port Moresby freelancer BIGA LEBASI with Lebasipic/Collection photographs
CONGRATULATIONS, celebrations and jubilations Air Niugini!
Your attention please, ladies and gentlemen in PNG and abroad….please  recharge your glasses for the toast …
Yes, all you current and former employees in cargo, baggage, GMs, cabin staff, pilots, pastry cooks in catering, security, Civil Aviation control tower staff, transport, finance, statistics, services, supply, reservations, flight administration, traffic, flight operations/planning, engineering, staff, administration, tours and training.
Also in ticketing, sales, humble cleaners and kofi bois, printers and advertising and public relations, cabin crew, commercial and the most important of all: the traveling public….yes, the toast is: To Air Niugini!
Air Niugini has flown a long, long way since 7am on Nov 1, 1973 when, at that exact scheduled time at Jacksons Airport,  Port Moresby, a much younger Sana Michael Thomas Somare, the first ever Chief Minister of Papua and New Guinea, clad in his signature tailor-made laplap and sandals and made-to-order collarless Afrikan Safari shirt duly cut a ceremonial ribbon and a small Fokker Friendship PX Flight 100 –  Air Niugini’s first ever scheduled service – lifted off the runway and up into the azure world for the port of Lae where by an accident in World War 2 a wreck on the port side was still then visible, almost hugging the waterfront esplanade that rounds the ples balus as your DC3 noses its entry to the landing lane.
It was an obviously proud moment for a young strapping Somare and his entourage of diplomatic VIPs and other dignitaries,  P and NG aviation notables like Talair’s Denis Buchanan and his brother Bubu Joe  (who would later in the 1980s managed Niugini Nius owned by Talair. Riep bubu) and Denis Douglas, owner/manager of Douglas Airways, former Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) general manager and newly appointed Air Niugini general manager Ralph G Conley  and Ansette Airlines general manager Reginald Ansette and the iconic aviator Captain G A Glassey, then Flight Administration manager for PX.
Sir Michael, in one of his shortest speeches in the early part of his rise to the dizzy heights of PNG political stardom, adoration and respect, told the crowd of dignitaries, airport staff and curious passenger passersby: “I believe Air Niugini will be more than just an airline – a means of communication.
“Air travel has always been, and will continue to be, a major unifying force over geographical barriers that previously left our people isolated from each other.
“It has brought together the people of Islands and Highlands. It has helped create a united Papua New Guinea, far more than words of our politicians.  Papua New Guinea’s history has become interwoven with the history of aviation in our country.”
Sir Michael told the launching ceremony because of that, he believed it was “extremely fitting that when we enter self-government we would do so with our own airline.”
“I wish to convey to the general manager, Mr Ralph G. Conley and his staff throughout Papua New Guinea, the Government’s faith in the future of Air Niugini,” he said.
And without further ado, Sana Somare cut the ceremonial ribbon, with a camera flash or two, filing photographic memories of the historic occasion for posterity, while his general manager Conley proudly looked on with admiration of it all plus the great contribution the said Task Force that had been put in place to do groundwork for conception months before. Wow, there she soars: up, up, up and away PX Flight 100 heading for Lima Alpha Echo. Are you receiving over…copied..over and out..
Bubu Biga Lebasi will continue to tell you, the victories, the doldrums, Paradise in-flight magazine, industrial strikes and stop works, interline friendly sports, air turbulence, fun and laughter,  pilots, cabin staff, ground staff, the domestic and international expansion programme and the remarkable PX safety record until the MAG and CHUK experiences.
“Fly the Bird of Paradise, we brought the world to you” ( PX radio advertising jingle with compliments to Gordon Sioni Advertising, in association with Air Niugini Advertising and Public Relations Department.  Circa 1978).