Pilot at fault

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
THE pilot of an aircraft which was damaged when it landed on an airstrip in West Sepik two weeks ago, is yet to be certified to fly in the country, an official says.
PNG Air Investigation Commission chief executive officer Captain David Inau said yesterday the American pilot was still unfamiliar with the local terrain and was not certified to fly in the country.
The aircraft, used as an air ambulance, is yet to be certified by the PNG Civil Aviation Safety Authority to operate in PNG.
The incident happened at the Tumolbil airstrip in Telefomin district, about one mile from the border with Indonesia, on Friday June 24.
The plane is owned by a US-based aviation non-profit humanitarian organization. The pilot is a volunteer nurse.
Inau said the pilot was yet to be certified by CASA and lacked the experienced to fly into the remote airstrip.
“Under CASA regulation, he has to fly there under the guidance of a pilot experienced to fly to Tumolbil,” he said.
“He has to successfully land and take off three times. If the experienced pilot is satisfied with his performance, then he is cleared to fly into the airstrip by himself.”
Inau said the pilot hit the steeped airstrip hard causing damage to the tail and rudder before it reached the tarmac.
He discovered later while preparing for take-off that it was difficult to control the plane. The plane was left there. Another pilot came to take him back to Vanimo.
Inau said the pilot and the one-engine Cesena-type light plane with a capacity to carry four people are licensed under the US Federal Aviation Administration.
“Both the pilot and the plane are yet to be certified to operate in PNG. The pilot is experienced in flying in the US and Africa but is unfamiliar with (the terrain in) PNG.
“So we have recommended to him that he must get CASA to certify the plane and he has to get a license to fly in PNG.
“After all his service and the plane are needed to provide health services in the province. Health services like medical supplies delivery, medical evacuation and other humanitarian services are not being  provided by the Government in these remote parts.”
Inau said the aircraft had been operating in West Sepik since September last year. It is still registered with the FAA registration number N8841X.
“It needs to have a P2 registration by September 21 (2016) to operate in PNG.
“The pilot has not done any wrong under the FAA regulation. But because he is flying in our air space, he has to comply with our (CASA) regulations.”
The incident happened at the Tumolbil airstrip in Telefomin district, about one mile from the border with Indonesia, on Friday, June 24.
The plane is owned by a US-based aviation non-profit humanitarian organisation. The pilot is a volunteer nurse.
Inau said the pilot was yet to be certified by CASA and lacked the experience to fly into the remote airstrip.
“Under CASA regulation, he has to fly there under the guidance of a pilot experienced to fly to Tumolbil,” he said.
“He has to successfully land and take off three times. If the experienced pilot is satisfied with his performance, then he is cleared to fly into the airstrip by himself.”
The pilot hit the airstrip hard causing damage to the tail and rudder before it reached the tarmac.
He discovered later while preparing for take-off that it was difficult to control the plane. The plane was left there. Another pilot came to take him back to Vanimo.
Inau said the pilot and the one-engine Cesena-type light plane with a capacity to carry four people were licensed under the US Federal Aviation Administration.
“Both the pilot and the plane are yet to be certified to operate in PNG. The pilot is experienced in flying in the US and Africa but is unfamiliar with (the terrain in) PNG.
“So we have recommended to him that he must get CASA to certify the plane and he has to get a licence to fly in PNG.
“After all, his service and the plane are needed to provide health services in the province. Health services like medical supplies delivery, medical evacuation and other humanitarian services are not being  provided by the Government in these remote parts.”
Inau said the aircraft had been operating in West Sepik since September last year. It is still registered with the FAA registration number N8841X.
“It needs to have a P2 registration by September 21 (2016) to operate in PNG.
“The pilot has not done any wrong under the FAA regulation. But because he is flying in our air space, he has to comply with our (CASA) regulations.”